Raleigh Dean Mason 73 of Wellsburg, WV died peacefully on Saturday, February 6, 2016 at home surrounded by his loving family.He was born on February 11, 1942 in Elyria, OH a son of the late Delbert Aubry Mason and Rosella (Reitter) Saver of Colliers, WV. He was a graduate of Follansbee High School in 1960 and went on to serve in the Navy during the Cuban Missile Crisis.Raleigh retired from Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel Corporation as a crane operator with 31 years of service. He was co-owner of Ann's Country Retreat Assisted Living Facility on Washington Pike in Wellsburg, WV.He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Wellsburg, WV and a Eucharistic Minister for 30 years. He was very active in the community having had memberships in the Brooke County Easter Seal Society Committee and was one of the organizers of the Follansbee Youth Basketball League and the Washington Pike Baseball Association. He spent six weeks of his vacation one summer to do all the ground work on the fields at Brooke Hills Park so the kids could play baseball.Raleigh was an avid sports enthusiast and truly enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren play in many of their sports activities. His many hobbies included camping, fishing on Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, as well as dancing and assisting the Amish by transporting them to their places of work. Raleigh was instrumental in forming the Concerned Citizens Group of Wellsburg.In addition to his mother, Raleigh is survived by his wife of 54 years who he referred to as the love of his life, Carolyn Christine (Kula) Mason whom he married on November 24, 1961. Four loving children, Pamela Mason, Wellsburg, WV, Tammy Harrison and companion, Kevin Jackson, Wellsburg, WV, Raleigh Joseph (Cindy) Mason, Follansbee, WV, and Ryan Mason and companion, LeeAnn Dowell, Wellsburg, WV.Two sisters, Beverly (Ken) Kromer and Kimberly (Rob) Govey both of Colliers, WV.One brother, Rodney (Mary) Mason of Follansbee, WV. Four grandchildren who adored him, Marilyn Fontana, Larry Wright, Raleigh Mason, Madison Mason, a darling great grandson Gavin Fontana, and Karlee Hilt and Kamryn Mayhew who considered Raleigh to be their grandfather.Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 10th from 5-8 P.M. at the Mullenbach Funeral Home 669 Main St. Follansbee, WV. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday, February 11th at 11:00 A.M. at St. Johns The Evangelist Church 1300 Charles St. Wellsburg, WV with the Rev. Fr. Dan Pisano as celebrant.Graveside military honors will be conducted by the Ohio Valley Veterans Memorial Squad at the Franklin Cemetery in Wellsburg, WV.In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Ann's Country Retreat.The family would like to thank Dr. Patsy Cipoletti, Dr. Jon David Pollack, Dr. Michael Blatt, and Dr. Nisham Tageja and the staff at Ann's Country Retreat for all the kindness and compassion they gave to Raleigh.Condolences may be sent to www.mullenbachfh.com
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