July 25, 1937 - May 19, 2022
Mason, Ronald James passed away peacefully on May 19, 2022, at the age of 84.
Ron was born in Trail, BC, on July 25, 1937, and grew up in Fruitvale. Ron and his wife Joan met at a Salmo High School Dance. They were married in Salmo in 1959. Ron enjoyed a 19 ½ year career with Cominco, taking him, Joan, and their three girls to many remote places in BC. From Pine Point, NWT, Benson Lake off the North end of Vancouver Island and Elkford, and in between. After each adventure, Ron and Joan would return to the Trail/Fruitvale area where their families were located. In 1973, they would make a big move to Penticton, where Ron joined the School District as Maintenance Superintendent, where he made a significant impact in the lives of students as well as his dedicated staff and was a valued mentor to many even in his final days.
Ron made a huge difference in each community he lived, with his incredible dedication to volunteerism and giving back. As a survivor of Polio, it was appropriate he would become an active Rotarian in many community initiatives - but especially the Polio Plus program, which will hopefully one day eradicate this deadly disease. Ron was an outstanding friend and neighbour and one of his first acts of service was teaching scouts, then on to so many roles from a volunteer firefighter and a ski patroller, often winning in first aid competitions. Any time there was something to be built in the community, he was called to take charge of the build - everything from ski hills, skating rinks, hospitals, community centre, a soup kitchen, and so much more. Ron lived his life building not just great buildings, but the most amazing relationships and trusted friendships. Ron Mason was never an Ironman, but always an Ironman volunteer in every sense of the word.
Ron will be sadly missed by his loving wife Joan (nee Grimm), daughters Diane Mason, Ronda Barzilay (nee Mason), and Karen Mason Bain, as well as his granddaughter Mason Barzilay and grandson Tad Bain, his sister Marilynn (Bryan) Webster and many very precious nephews, nieces and now even a great-niece. Ron is predeceased by his parents Harold and Lillian Mason (nee Kaphiem), and his younger brother Bill.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Memory of Ron for the Ron Mason Trades of Excellence Bursary. Cheques are payable to Penticton Secondary Schools Bursary and Scholarship Foundation, 158 Eckhardt Avenue East, Penticton, BC, V2A 1Z4.
A Celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 16, 2022, in typical Ron Mason format with a backyard gathering.