Mason, John Philip

John Philip Mason, of Brentwood, Tenn., and formerly of Blacksburg, Va., died on August 8, 2011. He was born on May 13, 1930, in Richmond, Va., to the Rev. and Mrs. J.P. H. Mason, and grew up in Hanover County, Va., where his father was rector of Fork Episcopal Church. He graduated from Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va., in 1951, where he was also commissioned in the United States Army Reserve. He served in the Korean War, where he earned the Bronze Star. After two years of active duty, he remained in the Army Reserve, from which he retired as a colonel after 30 years of service. He received additional degrees from Virginia Tech in 1954 and 1955, and his PhD in 1962, from the University of Missouri. He spent his professional career as a professor and head of the department of Agricultural Engineering, (now known as Biological Systems Engineering), at Virginia Tech, where he received the Sporn Award for teaching excellence. He was a registered professional engineer in Virginia. Membership in honorary organizations include Omicron Delta Kappa, Gamma Sigma Delta, Pi Tau Sigma, and Alpha Epsilon. In 1953 he married Margaret, (Marty) Miller, who survives him. Mr. Mason was preceded in death by his daughter, Elizabeth Birchett, of Arrington, Tenn.; and sisters, Ethel Miller, of Roanoke, and Mary Stuart Mason, of Richmond. In addition to his wife, he is survived by daughter, Catherine, (Katy) and her husband, Mark Graham, of Brentwood, Tenn.; daughter, Anne and her husband, Michael Montalbano, of Loveland, Ohio; son-in-law, Gary Birchett, of Arrington, Tenn.; and grandchildren, Caroline, Mason, and Parker Graham; Philip, Andrew, and William Birchett; and Michael and Meredith Montalbano. A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 20, 2011, at The Church of the Good Shepherd, Wilson Pike, Brentwood, Tenn., with The Rev. Randall Dunnavant presiding. Contributions may be made to the John Philip Mason Scholarship Endowment, Seitz Hall, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va., or to The Church of the Good Shepherd. Arrangements under direction of Brentwood- Roesch-Patton Funeral Home, 9010 Church Street East, Brentwood, TN 37027, 615-373-3040.