Harold "Pete" Lyle Masters

November 20, 1930 - January 26, 2013

Pete, as he was known to his friends and relatives, was born in Covina, California. His growing up years was on orange ranches where his father worked and where he learned to drive a tractor as well as a truck helping his father in the groves.

He graduated from Citrus Union High School in 1948. After taking four years of Auto Mechanics in school, was well prepared for his first full time job with the local Oldsmobile Dealership. He bought his first New Car in 1949, an Oldsmobile Fastback.

He met his high school sweetheart, Vera Tarble, at church and they dated for five years and were married on January 12, 1951. Pete had joined the California National Guard in 1949 to avoid being drafted and when they were activated into the regular Army in 190 he and Vera began planning a wedding. He was sent to Japan and Korea in 1951 and returned late 1952. They set up housekeeping in Covina, California where their first two children were born: Bruce David and Barbara Joy.

Pete bought into a Texaco service station with a friend upon being released from the Army. Eventually he was lured away to work for the local Richfield Oil Distributor driving a tank truck. In 1959 Pete and Vera moved to Barstow, California where they bought a Richfield distributorship. In Barstow their third child was born, Bryan Lee. After 12 years in the desert the family moved to San Jose where Pete went to work for Bill Deane Goodyear Tires as a store manager.

Pete’s last job was with the City of Santa Clara Street Department in the Landscaping Division. He retired in 1990 and devoted himself to his garden as well as restoring antique cars. Over the years he owned a 1929 Chevrolet Pickup, a 1940 Buick Special, a 1955 Buick Roadmaster convertible and a 1949 Oldsmobile Fastback.

Pete leaves his wife Vera, children Bruce and wife Laura, daughter Barbara, and Bryan and wife Lia, four grandchildren and six great grandchildren.