Gertrude “Chris” Mason, 104, passed away on Thursday, August 2, 2018 at Covington Commons Assisted Living in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Chris was born on December 25, 1913 in Watseka, Illinois to the late John T. and Lou Rena (Boldman) Walsh. Her family moved to Wabash in 1927 and she was a 1931 graduate of Linlawn High School. She married Howard Persley at Wesleyan Methodist Parsonage in Wabash on June 25, 1934; he died August 18, 1949. She then married Thomas Francis Mason on October 17, 1954 in Yuma, Arizona; he died on October 10, 1994. Chris retired as a Federal Buyer at the Naval Electronics Lab in San Diego, California. In 1995, Chris moved back to Wabash. She attended Wabash Friends Church and was also a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.
Chris is survived by daughter, Pat (Kenneth) Wright, Fort Wayne; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by one son, Howard E. Persley and by three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A graveside service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, August 6, 2018 at Friends Cemetery, Wabash, with Pastor David Philips officiating. Arrangements have been entrusted to McDonald Funeral Home, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcdonaldfunerals.com