December 28, 1929 – March 21, 2019
Donald V. Mason ’58 passed away peacefully in his home in Merced, California, on March 21, 2019. He was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Dec. 28, 1929, to Lyle and Irene Mason. He was the oldest of six children.
Dr. Mason grew up in the small towns of Paw Paw and Gobles in western Michigan, where his father worked a variety of jobs, such as barber, baker, and farmer. He was inspired by his three uncles who were physicians. He worked in the hospital as an orderly, observed surgeries, and learned on cadavers at the age of 14. He worked as an electrician and a taxi driver during summers while attending Andrews Academy (formerly Emmanuel Missionary College) and Andrews University, graduating with a physics degree.
After completing medical school at Loma Linda University in 1958, Dr. Mason did an internship and pediatric residency at Hurley Hospital in Flint, Michigan. After practicing in Kalamazoo for two years, he relocated to Merced, California, where he practiced for 45 years until retirement in 2009.
Dr. Mason worked nonstop and slept little due to his occupation and drive. He was meticulous, had a dry sense of humor, and reveled in the company of happy people. Though he had little time for hobbies while practicing medicine, he still cared for 11 acres of walnut trees on his home property, trained his German Shepherd, and enjoyed building model airplanes. He also enjoyed photography and developed his own wedding photos.
Dr. Mason married Edna Tresenriter, a nursing student he met at Loma Linda. They were married 60 years. He had two children, Brent (Erin) and Celeste Mason-Allgood (Jeri); and three grandchildren, Julia Palacios (Abraham), Ashton Allgood, and Zackery Walden.
(Source: Acquaintance of Dr. Mason)
