Ralph C. Mason

ALBANY – Ralph C. Mason, 93, of Albany, passed away on Monday, January 20, 2013 at the Inn of Community Hospice.
He was born in Palmyra, VA . Ralph was a graduate of Rensselaer High School and North Carolina A & T University. He was the first African American Captain of baseball and basketball teams at Rensselaer High School. Ralph played semi pro baseball for the Albany Black Sox and Schenectady Mohawk Giants.
He served in the US Army during WWII in Iwo Jima and Guam. Ralph married his beloved wife, Esther in 1950. He was employed as a clerk with the US Postal Service for 34 years. He was one of the founders of the Nu Tau Chapter of Omega Psi Fraternity and a member of the North Albany VFW Post 1610.
Ralph is the beloved husband of Esther Mason and the devoted father of Gary Mason (Paula) of Marlboro, MA, Randye Mason (Jana) of Gilbert AZ, and Audrey Mason of Cairo, NY. He is the brother of Martha Cook, and John Cook of Washington, DC and the late Henry and James Cook. Ralph is the grandfather of Erika Case (Josh) and Shawn Mason. He is the great grandfather of Mason and Copper Case.
Funeral services will be Friday at 12 noon at Bethany Reformed Church, 760 New Scotland Ave., Albany. Visitation will be Friday from 10 am to 12 noon at Bethany Reformed Church. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery.