Capt. Mason T. South, 86, of Mathews, Va., passed away of Mesothelioma (cancer) on Sunday, April 12, 2015.
He was a Merchant Marine veteran of WWII, entering at the age of 16, and also served in the U.S. Army as a SFC during the Korean War. He served 10 years on commercial vessels. He served on Army and Naval ships with the Navy MSC. His favorite ships were special projects including the Apollo tracking, missile carrier, deep sea survey with mini sub, hydrographic survey vessel, etc. He was also a Panama Canal Pilot and retired after 27 years of federal service. He was a licensed Master Mariner and Pilot License of Unlimited Tonnage Panama Canal.
After retiring, Mason served as president of the Mathews Yacht Stockholders and also President of The Friends of the Library (Mathews Memorial Library). Mason was active in Central United Methodist Church and the Central United Methodist Men until his health failed.
Mason and Anne camped for 27 years, after retiring, enjoying the company of many traveling and ultimately lifelong friends in the U.S. and Canada.
Mason was born in Mathews County on Oct. 15, 1928 to Edna and J.H. South (Happy). Along with his parents, Mason’s sister, Peggy South-Fluty; his brother, Hubert Jefferson South and his sister-in-law Dorothy; his daughters, Nancy Ann Wroten and Vickie South-Johnson, preceded him in death.
He leaves to cherish his memories, his wife of 56 years, Anne Mickelborough-South; his daughter, Faye Wroten-Ochsenfeld (Nathan); five grandchildren, Liz, Meghan, Pete, James and Lisa; and nine great-grandchildren. He also leaves his niece, Donna Lynn South-Goolsby and her husband Trip; and a nephew, H.J. South and his wife Mary and their children Taylor (Ashley) and Hunter (Lorelei) South.
The family received friends on Wednesday, April 15, 2015, from 1-2 p.m. with a funeral service at 2 o’clock at Foster-Faulkner Funeral Home, Mathews. Burial followed at H.C. Smither Cemetery, Hudgins, Va.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mason’s memory to the Mathews Vol. Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 723, Mathews, Va. 23109 or to the Mathews Vol. Fire Dept., P.O. Box 1130, Mathews, Va. 23109.