Robert B. Mason

Colonel Robert B Mason, USMC, Ret passed away surrounded by family at his home of 41 years in the Greenbriar Subdivision of Fairfax, VA at the age of 84. Col Mason was born in Lexington, MA in 1934 and served in the USMC from 1952-1983. Col Mason is now in heaven with his wife of 48 years, Josephine Shea Mason, who was born in Arlington, MA in 1936 and also passed away at home in 2003. In life he was cherished as a father, grandpa, and great-grandpa. He and Josephine raised five children and gained one daughter-in-law: Cmdr Rick Mason USN, MSC, Ret, and wife Liz of Oviedo, FL; Tim Mason of Fairfax, VA; Donna Gray of Black Mountain, NC; Patty Mason of Cary, NC; and Terri Mason of Fairfax, VA. He played an indispensible role in the lives of his seven grandchildren: Krista, Ryan, Jem, Catie, Kayla, Robert, and Michaela. He got to hold in his arms the first baby of the fourth generation in his legacy with the birth of his great-granddaughter, Kyna. Col Mason also has a surviving brother, Richard Mason of Rio Rancho, NM. Col Mason enlisted in the USMCR in 1952 and attended boot camp at Parris Island, SC. He attained the rank of Sergeant while in the Reserves. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant upon graduation from Springfield College, MA in 1955. Col Mason served in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th Marine Divisions and the 2nd Marine Air Wing. He served as Military Advisor to the Republic of Korea Marine Corps; Communication Officer, 26th Marine Regiment in Vietnam; Commanding Officer, Marine Barracks, Kodiak, AK; Instructor and Academic Director of Marine Corps Communications-Electronics School in San Diego and 29 Palms, and the Communications Planner for Commander, Amphibious Group 2, NAB Little Creek, VA. He also served on the J-3 staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the DOD Joint Tactical Communications Office. Col Mason attended The Basic School, the Communication Officers School, and Amphibious Warfare School at Quantico, VA; and Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, VA. Col Mason’s decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V, Navy Unit Commendation, Vietnam Service Medal with 5 Bronze Stars, Korean Defense Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Col Mason was a marathon runner who ran several sub-three-hour Boston Marathons and had two knee replacements to prove it. He was very active in the community and gave a lot of his time to volunteer service, acting as a soccer referee (1979-83) and softball umpire (1984-1992) for the Chantilly Youth Association (CYA); umpiring for the Little League Softball World Series in 1991; assisting the Society of St Vincent De Paul at St Timothy Church of Chantilly, VA (2005-2016); supporting Wreaths Across America; and speaking for Veteran activities at numerous elementary and middle school events in Northern Virginia.