Charles Leo Mason

Charles Leo Mason December 20, 1931 ~ September 27, 2013 Charles passed away September 27, 2013 at the age of 81. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, December 20, 1931, to Clarence Leo Mason and Emma Louise Thelen Mason. Charles graduated from Pekin Community High School, Pekin, IL, in 1949 and from College of the Canyons, Saugus, CA, in 1977. At age 16, he began a career in railroading as a telegraph operator and an eventual dispatcher in the Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal. He actively served in the U. S. Air Force during the Korean conflict. In 1958, he married Ruth Amelia Berthold, whom he first met in Chicago in 1943, during which time, both their mothers were working together in the war plants. In 1968 he was employed by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and began teaching Hydroelectric Generation, where he became a Chief Operator. He and Ruth moved to East Wenatchee in 1978, where he continued working in Hydroelectric Generation until his retirement in 1993. Upon retiring, Charles pursued a vocation of study of our local Geology, volunteering his time, teaching, lecturing, presenting field trips and writing extensively. In 1997, he wrote and published the book, "The Geological History of the Wenatchee Valley", now in its second revised printing. In 2001, he established the "Wenatchee Valley Erratics, a local Chapter of "The Ice Age Floods Institute" and served as one of its officers for a number of years. During this same period, he wrote and published a book pertaining to our local geology, along with a series of videos on the same subject, which he narrated for viewing on our TV network. In 2010, the "Erratics" were recognized by the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center as one of Wenatchee Valley's "Living Treasures". Charles was a Master Mason and a member of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Chicago. A long time advocate of environmental issues, he actively supported the Nature Conservancy, Audubon society, Friends of the Trees, and served on the Loop Coalition for the "Apple Capitol Recreational Loop Trail". Memorials may be made to the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society, Wenatchee Valley Senior Center, Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, UT or the Nature Conservancy of Washington State. A Celebration of Life for Ruth and Charles Mason will be held at 2:00 Saturday, November 2, 2013 at the Wenatchee Community Center, Wenatchee, WA. Arrangements are by Telford's Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee, WA

Charles Leo Mason

December 20, 1931 - September 27, 2013