Obituary of John S. Masterson

John S. "Jack" Masterson John S. "Jack" Masterson passed away on Tuesday, June 8, 2010. The son of John P. and Nora Keating Masterson, he was born at Willowbrook Farm in The Clove. Mr. Masterson attended local schools and graduated from Hope Farm High School. The family relocated to Wappingers Falls during the mid 1930's where Jack worked at his father's service station at New Hackensack Road, before taking employment with the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company. In the course of almost forty years with the company, he had occasion to work at most of the area A&P's before retiring as dairy manager of the Arthursburg store. A devoted son Jack visited his widowed mother every evening after a long day of moving pallets of milk. During World War II, Mr. Masterson proudly served as a sergeant with the 14th Army Air Force 22nd Bombardment Squadron deployed to the China-Burma- India theatre. On June 27, 1946 Mr. Masterson married Eileen Bennett at St. Mary's Church in Wappingers Falls. They were happily married for sixty-two years. Mrs.Masterson died in June 2008. A practiced waiter, Mr. Masterson waited tables at the Knights of Columbus, where he was a member of the Fourth Degree. He also waited for the family to pile into the car for Sunday Mass, and waited on the shore at the swimming hole at White Bridge while his children played in the water. Like his father, Jack was a shade tree mechanic, and could repair just about anything, including broken windows and flat bicycles. Mr. Masterson was a member of St. Mary's Holy Name Society, and the VFW. An avid gardener, for many years Jack tended the flowers around St. Mary's. Mr. Masterson is survived by his children, Richard and daughter-in-law Susie, Thomas, Kathleen, Jackie, and Maureen, and son-in-law Peter Wilby; his loving grandchildren Vincent, Danielle, Chris, Damian, Brendan, Megan, Ryan, Brian, James, Nora, Emma, and Kyla; and their children Brianna, Trishia, Sarah and Heather. He was predeceased by his sister Helen, brother William, and devoted daughter Margaret Wilby. A patient, quiet gentleman, whose good nature and genial disposition made him a pleasure to know, Jack was well-liked by all and will be deeply missed. Family will receive their friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 10, 2010 at Straub, Catalano and Halvey Funeral Home, 55 East Main Street, Wappingers Falls. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 am on Friday, June 11 at St. Mary's Church, Clinton Street, Wappingers Falls. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Wappingers Falls. The family would like to thank the Castle Point visiting nurses and the home health aides who helped tend to Dad. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a Veteran's program of your choice. To send the family a personal condolence or for directions to the funeral home, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.