BILL R. MASON  

Bill R. Mason of Bethesda, MD, left this earth March 16, 2014, two days shy of his 50th birthday. He brightened our lives with his wonderful humor, decency, authenticity and generous spirit. Beloved by all who knew him, Bill is survived by his wife, Sonha; his two sons John and Brian; his mother, Carol Downs; his stepfather, Stuart Downs; his father, Robert G. Mason; his sister, Peggy (Jan) Smith; his stepsister, Taylor (Ray) Plunkett; his stepbrother, Steve (Cassi) Downs; his nephews, Peter, Raymond, Anthony, Preston and niece, Madison. Bill was a joyful father, kindhearted and loving husband, thoughtful son, loyal friend - just a great guy. He was an avid chess player, an undergraduate at Duke University, graduate of the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and Ft. Hunt High School in Alexandria, VA. For the past several years Bill worked in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Prior to that, he worked for the U.S. Department of Treasury. A memorial service will be held Sunday, April 13 at 11:30 a.m. in the Atrium, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Court, Vienna, VA 22182. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to http://www.montgomeryhospice.org or to Bill's son, Brian's 529 education account at www.gradsave.com/brianmason.

Published in The Washington Post on Mar. 27, 2014