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In the company of his loved ones and friends, Robert Darwin Mason, 84 of Camptown in Charlotte County, passed away on Sept. 25, at Centra Lynchburg General Hospital.

In 1958, Darwin Mason wed Dorothy Harris Mason; they were married for the rest of his life. Darwin was the son of the late Merle Mason and the late Lula Earl Harris Mason and was born in Charlotte County (Abell) on May 28, 1938. He has been an active, lifetime member of Mount Carmel United Methodist Church.

Always a farmer, Darwin was a shining example of a lifelong learner who gained greater knowledge about tobacco cultivation’s foundational principles and the most up-to-date methods and equipment at the time. As he maintained his commitment to farming and entrepreneurial mindset, opportunities to change direction, expand his capabilities and pursue new crops later in his agricultural career arose in response to changes in the tobacco program.

This memorial wouldn’t be complete without acknowledging Darwin’s love for the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1946, he made his decision to support the Cardinals at 8 years old when he learned his mother had worked in Roxboro, North Carolina, with Enos “Country Boy” Slaughter. That year, in October Darwin celebrated the Cardinals’ World Series victory in what came to be a most historic and memorable win. For the next 76 years he remained a loyal and devoted fan. His love of baseball gave him the understanding and memory of a wealth of baseball history and statistics. Nobody dared to doubt Darwin’s knowledge of specific baseball trivia, player stats and the special history of the St. Louis Cardinals. It thrilled him to have shared the excitement of a weekend series in St. Louis with his family in August.

Besides his loving wife, his adoring family survives him: a daughter, Mitzi Mason Lee (J. Thomas Wakefield) of Beaverdam; a son, Monte S. Mason (Rhonda Lee) of Brookneal; four grandchildren, Katherine Lee Jackson (Blake), Sydney Ann Mason, Sarah Gail Mason and Garrett Marcus Mason; two great-grandchildren, Harvey Darwin Jackson, Luc Harris Jackson; a brother, E. Randolph “Randy” Mason and a sister, Mary Elizabeth “Libby” Allen.

He is preceded in death by a son, Marcus Darwin Mason, and a brother, Thomas Merle Mason.

The Centra Lynchburg General Hospital’s Emergency Department and Cardiac ICU team provided Darwin and his family with unparalleled professional and concerned care throughout this unforeseen occurrence. The family would like to express their gratitude to them. The family also wants to thank the Charlotte County Rescue Squad for being so diligent in caring for Darwin. There aren’t enough words to express our gratitude to the employees and volunteers for their hard work and compassion in the most demanding positions.

The family is immensely grateful and wants to express their heartfelt gratitude for the compassion shown to them by their friends, extended family, Mt. Carmel UMC “Preacher Mike” the entire church family, and friends in business. The abundance of acknowledgements, cards, flowers, food, phone calls, texts, visits and prayers received during this time of grief has brought so much comfort and is appreciated beyond words. The love demonstrated through these acts of loving-kindness is a tribute not only to Darwin but also to the character and quality of those who surround us. Darwin cherished his wife, children, grandchildren, extended family, close friends, caring neighbors, church, rabbit dogs, baseball, lively and enthusiastic discussion, business friends and good stories.

On Wednesday, Sept. 28, the family held his funeral service at Mt. Carmel UMC. Pastor Mike Teixeira presided, and Darwin was interred in the church cemetery. Henderson’s Funeral Home managed the arrangements.

His family requested memorial contributions to Mt. Carmel UMC to honor and remember Darwin.

Henderson Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Brookneal assisted the family.