Donald Wayne Mason

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Donald Wayne Mason, a cherished husband, father, grandfather, and friend, who peacefully departed this world on June 12, 2025. As the proud owner of Penny's Hamburgers and an Exxon service station, Don earned the love and respect of his community through his hard work and generosity.

A devoted member of Riverland Hills Baptist Church and the Gideons, Don’s life was anchored in his faith. He found joy in decorating his home with dazzling Christmas lights and spent countless afternoons playing golf with friends and his beloved grandsons. Known for his quick wit and engaging spirit, Don adored family vacations and cherished holidays with loved ones.

He is survived by his loving wife, Ruth Mason; daughters, Angie Hooper and Debbie Mason; son-in-law, Tom Hooper; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren, who will forever carry his light in their hearts.

A memorial service will take place at Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, 7600 Woodrow St, Irmo, SC 29063, on Monday, June 23rd at 1:00 pm, celebrating the remarkable life of this extraordinary man.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Gideons International at the following link: https://www.gideons.org/donate

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Written for Papa.

Donald W. Mason, age 80, of Irmo, South Carolina, passed away on June 12th, leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, and a well-stocked collection of hats and vests.

Born on September 9th, 1944, Don lived a life full of character, quirks, and Christ-like kindness. He loved his family fiercely, his friends loyally, and his orange juice freshly squeezed—no pulp, please. And he lived loudly, in both his actions, and his words. Literally, you knew when he walked into the room.

A man of many interests and even more “isms,” like a $1.298, Don had a phrase or opinion ready for every occasion, most of them funny, all of them memorable. He had a gift for finding the bright side in life—and labeling it, literally. No box, bin, photo album or even washing machine escaped his need for order and a good label maker.

He loved to be on the golf course, preferably with his family where he could teach them a proper grip. Gilligan’s Putt-Putt with his grandkids also ranked high on his list. And he wouldn’t say no to a Krystal burger afterwards. Though he might try to go on a Walmart run if you brought up Tiger Woods. And if he had to fuel up on the way, he’d prefer to go to Exxon.

He believed in Jesus, sharing his faith, and making sure that a yards worth of Christmas lights went up early for the whole neighborhood to enjoy. And when push came to shove, he could get pretty competitive in a pancake war.

Disney World was one of his happy places for many of his early years, and he made every trip feel like magic—especially if it included a trip to see the Little Mermaid or The Hall of Presidents, which made for a good air-conditioned nap. He loved old, red corvettes with the top down, and he never missed the chance to grab Krispy Kreme when the hot sign was on.

Toothpicks were his trusty sidekick, and if you knew him well, you’d have one ready to go after every meal. He loved capturing life through pictures, both behind and in front of the camera, creating albums that told the story of his beloved family.

He built his life up from Pennies. No really, “Pennies” was the name of his restaurant. He started and ran it for several years, serving up the best burgers around with a side of even better conversations, the kind of family friendly environment that only he could foster.

Don is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Ruth Mason, his high school sweetheart and the love of his life. Their marriage was a true partnership built on faith, laughter, and decades of shared adventures – both big and small. Whether it was a family vacation, quiet evenings at home, or trying to remember where they hid their Easter eggs, they lived life together as true soul mates.

He was a great girl dad to his daughters, Angie Hooper (Tom Hooper) and Debbie Mason who inherited his work ethic, determination, strength, intelligence and spunk!

He was a proud grandfather to SBJMA: Shelby Flanders (Jordan Flanders), Brandon Wolfe, Jake Hooper, Mason Wolfe, and Andrew Wolfe and a great-grandfather to Emma Kate and Ella Ruth, who brought loveable chaos through Facetime almost every week.

In honor of his memory, we ask that you share a story, a smile, or a Reese’s cup with someone you love.

We’ll miss him more than he missed the pineapple milk shake at Zesto’s when they discontinued it. Which is to say, a lot. But we rejoice in knowing we will see him again one day, in the presence of God and his Savior, Jesus Christ.

Signed – Shelby Flanders (His favorite granddaughter)