Gwenn Mae Masterson's Obituary
Gwenn M. Masterson of Dallas, Texas, passed away April 29, 2009, after a brief illness. Mrs. Masterson was born Gwendlyn Mae Williams on April 18, 1922, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada to mother Ada Elizabeth (nee Evans) Williams and father Walter James Howard Williams. At age 8, Gwenn’s family immigrated to Detroit where she grew up, attended high school, and began her career working at the corporate offices of S. S. Kresge, the five-and-dime stores which later became known as Kmart. Gwenn became a naturalized citizen of the United States at age 21. She remained in Detroit until she met her future husband, Thomas B. “Tex” Masterson. During WWII, Gwen worked as a secretary to the president of a steel company in Detroit, and it was there that she met her future husband in 1943. Tex Masterson was detached from his Army Air Corps unit to work on a weapons project, and it was this assignment that sent him to the steel company to buy raw materials for weapons production. While there in Detroit, Gwenn and Tex fell in love and found their life-long companion. Tex was later transferred to Laredo, Texas, where Gwenn joined him on July 2, 1945, and they were married in the base chapel just an hour after her arrival. Gwenn continued working on base for the duration of his military service. After the war, Gwenn and Tex moved to Dallas where she worked in the “War Assets” department. Son Thomas C. “Tommy” Masterson was born in 1947, at which time Gwen became full-time mother and homemaker. Obviously never one to sit idle, Gwenn was an avid flower club member, PTA worker, along with several other groups. She was a member of Casa Linda Methodist Church, joining shortly after its founding. To give back to the community, she became a teacher’s aide for the Dallas ISD. She became passionate about genealogy and produced significant research and history on the Masterson family tree. To further give back to the community, she was a respected and well-loved volunteer for over 17 years at Doctor’s Hospital at White Rock Lake, providing a friendly smile and assistance at the front desk. She was healthy and active until she fell and broke her hip this March. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 54 years, Thomas B. “Tex” Masterson, and by her brother, Roy Williams of Michigan. She is survived by two sisters, Margaret Hoffmeister and Barbara Shobe, and by brother Ralph Williams, all of whom live in the Detroit, Michigan area. Gwenn is survived by her loving son, Thomas C. “Tommy” Masterson, of Dallas. Her grace, dedication, humor and humility will be greatly missed by many friends, neighbors and family members. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Thursday, April 30, 2009 at Restland Funeral Home. Services will be held at 10:00 am, Friday, May 1, 2009, at Restland Wildwood Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to plant trees at White Rock Lake Park through “The Celebration Tree Grove” of “For the Love of the Lake” at www.whiterocklake.org
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