Perry D. Mason, 89, of Rock Island, died Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016 at UnityPoint Health - Trinity Rock Island.

Funeral services are 11 am Thursday at South Park Presbyterian Church, Rock Island. Burial is at Memorial Park Cemetery, Rock Island. Visitation is 10 am until service time Thursday at the church. Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Rock Island is assisting the family. Memorials may be made to the Scott D. Mason Memorial Scholarship Fund at Augustana College.

Perry Dean Mason was born Dec. 22, 1926 in Dallas-Melcher, Iowa, a son of Theron S. and Sybil B. Moon Mason. He married Marjorie Lea Glaspell on June 21, 1947 in Davenport.

Perry graduated from Augustana College in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He worked as a reporter-photographer at The Rock Island Argus from 1952 - 1965. He then served as the director of publications at Augustana College until his retirement in 1991.

Perry was a WW II U.S. Navy veteran. During his school years, Perry was the spelling champion of Marion County, Iowa. He was an excellent photographer, winning awards for his journalistic photography. Perry loved to sing and had a wonderful baritone voice. At the age of 52, he ran the Boston Marathon.

Survivors include his wife, Marjorie; daughters and sons-in-law, Pamela Anne Mason (Galen Tromble), Silver Spring, Md., and Cynthia Lea (Don "Buz") Gibson, Evergreen, Colo.; and grandchildren, Rebecca Coatney (Noah Newman), Robert (Erin) Coatney, Gabbie Gibson, Caroline (Marc) Hobbs, and Audrey Gibson. He was preceded in death by his son, Scott Douglas Mason and brother, Eldon Mason.

Online condolences may be left at wheelanpressly.com.