Mason S. Rhoads

Mason grew up in Canton, Ohio, the son of Herbert Rhoads and Mary Lou McCurdy.

He attended Glenwood High School, was an Eagle Scout at Camp Tuscazoar, and then joined the Navy after graduation. He was a student at Kent State University when four students were killed in 1970, an event that helped shape him into a man of strong political beliefs. He earned a Bachelor of Arts at Kent and tried several white-collar professions that did not suit his strong manly demeanor. He moved to Seattle, Washington in 1980, eventually living near Discovery Park, and the beginning of a lifetime love within its boundaries. He walked the park daily with a large stick that he hoped to use on disrespectful dog owners, beer drinkers and other hooligans.

He ran his own electrical company for many years, using skills he learned in the Navy as an aviation electricians’ mate. He owned his own business that enabled him to work as little as possible in order to travel the country attending festivals, visiting friends, and harassing servers with demands of “authentic home fries”. He could be found driving to attend Shakespeare festivals, concerts at the Gorge, skiing in the mountains, and riding his bike for late night squid fishing. When he closed his company, he spent his extra time singing shanty songs and doing free electrical work for family and friends. He was a strong advocate for Veterans for Peace and attended rally’s and events where he stood out as the tallest member of the group and often its most vocal.

Mason will be missed by his fraternal twin, Dixon Lee Rhoads and his oldest brother, David Stanton Rhoads, as well as his 10 half siblings and their children, his many nieces and nephews and his many, many friends.

Because the people who loved him are spread out over the nation, a gathering of them all would be difficult. He would rather that multiple celebrations with lots of food in his honor be held, so that he can travel to them all.

In lieu of flowers and other wasteful gifts, he would be glad of any donations made in his honor to Veterans for Peace, Chapter 92, P.O. Box 31947, Seattle, Wash., 98103.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Robinson-Lytle-Shoemaker Funeral Home, 36 N 7th Street, Indiana, PA.