Ralph W. Mason

Ralph W. Mason passed away on Jan. 1, 2011 in his home with family members near.

Ralph was born on Oct. 4, 1926 in Farmington, Ill., to Harry Browning Mason and Eula Marie (Lane) Mason.

At age 17, he moved to Columbia Falls, with his family and spent his first summer working for the Forest Service on Spotted Bear Lookout.

He met his future wife, Virginia Mae Smithson, soon after at the local roller-rink.

Near the end of WW II, Ralph joined the Merchant Marines, serving under the U.S. Coast Guard in the Pacific Theater, transporting supplies to Japan and China and returning service personnel to the States.

On his return home, Ralph and Virginia were married.

Ralph went to work on construction of the Hungry Horse Dam where he began his career as an electrician. Over the years, his work took him across the nation, and in 1958, the family moved to Orcutt, Calif.

Ralph coached for the Orcutt Little League during their initial year of play. He became instructor for the Allan Hancock College electrical apprenticeship program, which he taught for five years. Later, he developed the Rocketry project for Los Amigos 4-H and served as leader for seven years.

After retirement, Ralph enjoyed vacations in Western Montana, metal detecting, playing disk-golf at Waller Park, woodworking and electronics. Ralph loved boating and the family often enjoyed camping trips to local lakes.

Ralph is survived by Virginia, his devoted wife of 64 years; two sons, Jeffrey R. Mason (Lee) of Condon, and David J Mason (Jennifer) of Orcutt, Calif. Both sons are IBEW Local #413 members, as was Ralph. Also surviving him are two daughters, Linda M. Ortali (Tunny) of San Luis Obispo, Calif., and Marlene D. Mason (Randy Rigby) of Ventura, Calif. Seven grandchildren survive him, including Blake and Brooke Mason; Zachary, Natalie and Nicolas Mason and Tyler and Garret Ortali.

Also surviving him are sister Patricia Stevens of DeerLodge; brothers Jerry Mason of Indianapolis, Ind., and Charles Mason of Espanola, N.M; nephews Steven Mason (Gayle) of Somers, and W. Scott Mason of Las Vegas, Nev.; Nieces Terry Vorhes Cathy Jennings, Janet Barkhoff, Vickie Downard and Christine Pfitscher and many great-nieces and great-nephews.

Ralph was a 60-year member of the IBEW, with 50 years in Local #413, Santa Barbara.

Ralph’s remains have been privately interred in the “Tower of Light” at Dudley-Hoffman Memory Gardens. The family requests that memorial contributions in Ralphs’ memory be made to ‘Friends of Waller Park’ P.O. Box 2835, Orcutt, CA 93457.

Arrangements are under the direction of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens in Santa Maria, Calif.