Carl William Edward Masser

Carl William Edward Masser, 91, of Tavares, Florida was called home to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 6, 2017 in Riverside, Ohio surrounded by family. "Bill" was a member of the "Greatest Generation" and one of the few remaining World War II veterans. He was born August 23, 1925 in Bridgeport, Ohio to Carl O. and Violet A. Masser. He graduated from Grandview High School in Columbus, OH in 1943. He proudly served his country in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II after enlisting in the U.S. Army. After the war he graduated from Ohio State University with a B.S. degree in 1951. He took a position at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH in 1954 where he worked as the Operations Chief of the Transonic Wind Tunnel. He spent the majority of his civilian career in as an Intelligence Specialist in the Foreign Technology Division from where he retired in 1984. He also continued to serve as an instructor in the U.S. Army Reserves, retiring as a Master Sergeant in 1985. Bill was accomplished at singing the several hundred little songs, jingles, and ditties that he had learned over the years and was generous with his time and resources when it came to worthy causes. He also served as a volunteer at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in Florida for many years and frequently helped out at the polls in Tavares during election season. He was a long-time member of the First United Methodist Church of Tavares. Bill loved sports (especially Buckeyes football), history, old movies, pizza, and visiting with friends, but one of the things he loved most was his family. He is survived by his four children, daughter Debra Ouellette of Bristol, CT, son John (Rhonda) Masser of McHenry, IL, daughter Lisa (Bob) Allen of Riverside, OH, and son Kurt (Paula) Masser of Tipp City, OH; sister Iris Berry of Fairborn, OH; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and many, many friends. A private memorial service will be held at a later date at Linwood Cemetery in Blaine, OH. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of Dayton or to the Civil War Trust (civilwar.org). Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.trostelchapman.com.