William K. Mason, 82, of Catasauqua, died Aug. 22, 2025. He was the husband of the late Mary Jane Mason.

Born in Queens, N.Y., he was the son of Lycurgus Mason and Dorothy Griffin.

He was a veteran who served in the U.S. Navy from 1964 to 1985, with an additional 10 years served in the reserves. During his career, he was awarded several commendations, medals and ribbons.

He found a passion for photography and developed everlasting images of both beauty and devastation. His work during the Vietnam War on the supercarrier USS Forrestal (CV-59) will forever be memorialized on the August 1967 cover of Life magazine’s, “Inferno At Sea.”

His continued after retirement as a wedding photographer until darkrooms became obsolete.

He advanced to executive director of the Housing Association and Development Corporation nonprofit in Allentown.

He is survived by a brother, Lycurgus “Kirk”; five children, Christopher P. with Raina, Lisa with Jimmy, Christopher B., Thomas and Tiffany with Kenny; nine grandchildren, Dustin, Dylan, Delaney, Jesse, Sarah, Corinne, William, Zachary and Alivia; and two great-grandchildren, Ava and Aria.

He was predeceased by a brother, Gregory.

The family will coordinate a celebration of life with honors at a later date.

Contributions may be made to a local animal shelter.

Arrangements were made by Brubaker Funeral Home Inc., Catasauqua.