This page is dedicated to the Remembrance of our Brothers who have passed. Information is posted as it becomes available. An e-mail is sent to the Brethren so that they are made aware and able to pay their respects as they see fit. You can Click on a Brother’s name to read a brief obituary about him.
Masonic Funeral Services are an honorable way for Masons to pay homage to their Brothers who have passed. But one must make his wishes known to his family or funeral director – the Lodge does not provide these services unless they are requested.
Leo S. Dragon Jr. “Jackson,” 68, of Sweet Valley, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, at home.
He was born in Kingston on June 22, 1953, and was the son of the late Leo Dragon Sr. and Eleanor Quinnan.
Leo graduated from West Side Area Vocational Technical School in 1971 and received his master’s degree in education from Temple University. He was the owner/operator of Dragon Construction in the 1980s before becoming a building construction teacher at West Side Vo-Tech for 32 years. Leo was president of PSEA Teachers Union for West Side Vo-Tech for 15 years. He was also a member of Carpenters Local Union and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Hunlock Creek. In his retirement, he enjoyed many projects around his home, dinners out with his family, playing with his grandchildren, and camping with Jane O. He was a friend to many and a role model to even more. His wealth of skills and knowledge traveled beyond his reach. Dad had a tremendous impact on everyone who was fortunate enough to know him.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sister, Lois Dragon; daughter, Jennifer Dragon; and grandson, Cole Dragon.
Leo is survived by children, Leo Dragon III and Stacy, Bear Creek; Kelly Christianson and husband, Harry, Parsons; Tim Dragon and wife, Lindsay, Shavertown; and Laura McBride and husband, Scott, Mars; grandchildren, Emma, Macz, Jackson, Lettie, Demi and Owen; and his companion and partner in crime, Jane Balavage, aka Jane O.
Richard A. Shannon, 86, of Dallas, passed away Monday, June 14, 2021, at The Meadows Nursing Center, Dallas.
Born in West Pittston, he was the son of the late Charles and Ethel Bennett Shannon and was a graduate of West Pittston High School.
Richard was in the garment industry, cutting and making wedding dresses. He was a member of Shavertown United Methodist Church.
He was also a member of George M. Dallas Masonic Lodge 531, F&AM, Irem Shrine, Keystone Consistory, Valley of Scranton. Richard was with the Legion of Honor, the clown and patrol units and was secretary of the patrol unit of Irem Shrine.
He was very active with the Pittston Little League as a coach. Some of his hobbies were hunting, fishing, and golf.
Richard was preceded in death by brothers, Frank Sr. and Robert Shannon.
Surviving are his wife, the former Beverly Race, at home; sister, Ethel Mae Sherman, Lykens; brothers, Charles Shannon Jr., Plains Twp.; Amos Shannon, Old Forge; and David Shannon, Dunmore; and numerous nieces and nephews.
James Franklin Besecker, Jr, 93, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at Hospice of the Sacred Heart in Dunmore, PA.
Born in Dallas on July 16, 1927, he was the son of James and Emily Connor Besecker and was a graduate of Dallas Boro High School and The University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School (‘51) .
Jim was a member of Prince of Peace Episcopal Church, Dallas, and St Mary’s Episcopal Church, Stuart, FL. He was a member of The Irem Shrine and a 72-year member of George M. Dallas Masonic Lodge #531, Dallas as well as the Dallas Fire Company.
Having served in the US Navy during WWII, he was employed by Monroe Systems for Business for 34 years, retiring as Vice-President of Sales and Marketing. He was a certified auctioneer who specialized in charity events.
Having entered the real estate business in Chester, NJ, and subsequently, in Dallas, PA, he was lately associated with his brother Robert, owner of Besecker Realty.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years Georgia Johnson Besecker in 2018 and son John Frederick Besecker in 1986. Survivors include a son James F Besecker, III (Sue) of Center Sandwich, NH, a daughter Laura Levine (Marc), Scottsdale, AZ; 4 grandchildren, James F Besecker, IV (Emily) of Ypsilanti, MI, Charles Zachary Besecker (Lydia) of Park City, UT, Rachel Emily Levine (Alex) and Jessica Wilhelmsen (Kyle) of Scottsdale, AZ; 4 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Bro. Harrison Smith, 96, formerly from the Wyoming Valley, passed January 1. Master Mason 1948.
Bro. Ralph Garris, 89, formerly of Dallas, passed January 26. Master Mason 1954. Bro. John Holdredge Sr., 83, of Dallas, passed February 19. Master Mason 1957. Bro. George Alan Stolarick, 59, of Dallas, passed March 16, 2012. Master Mason 1995. Bro. Peter Paul Mahalick, 72, of Dallas, passed May 13, 2012. Master Mason 2007. Bro. James “Howie” Sangston, 71, of Dallas, passed on June 4, 2012. Master Mason 1990. Bro. Royal J. Culp, 90, of Kingston, passed away June 24, 2012. Master Mason 1950. Bro. William Sorokin, 67, of Plains Township, passed August 16. Master Mason 2004. Bro. Walter Gosart, 92, of Shavertown, passed September 4. Master Mason December 1946. Bro. William A. Vollrath, 74, of Harveys Lake, passed October 12. Master Mason 1971.
Bro. Richard (Dick) Evans Jr., 73, of Dallas, passed October 5. Master Mason 2005.
Bro. Barry Landmesser, 71, of Shavertown, passed November 26. Master Mason 1965.
Bro. Robert Price, passed December 2. Master Mason 1959.
Bro. James Norris Warkomski, 85, Phoenix, AZ, passed December 22, 2012. Master Mason 1949. Bro. Edward P. Casterline, 84, of Exeter, passed away Sunday, December 30, 2012. Master Mason 1993.
Brother Asa B. Shaver, a farmer who resided in Dallas, PA, was born in 1838 in Dallas Township. He was reared and educated at the common schools. Shaver confined himself to agricultural pursuits owning 50 acres of fertile land devoted to general farming. He was described as having a retiring disposition attending to his own affairs rather than seeking the smiles and favors of others. Asa married, but had no children. Brother Shaver was a Freemason in good standing, receiving all the Degrees up to and including Knights Templar. He was the first Worshipful Master of George M. Dallas Lodge No. 531. Source: History of Luzerne County Pennsylvania by H. C. Bradsby; S. B. Nelson & Co., Publishers; 1893.
19th Century Worshipful Masters Bro. Asa B. Shaver 1875, 1893
Bro. Theodore Ryman 1876
Bro. James Garrahan 1877
Bro. Joseph Shaver 1878
Bro. Ira Shaver 1879
Bro. Philip Raub 1880
Bro. Ziba Rice 1881
Bro. Lewis Shaver 1882
Bro. Richard Whiteman 1883
Bro. Charles Cooke 1884
Bro. Robert Holly 1885
Bro. Charles Rogers 1886
Bro. Oliver Fisher 1887, 1888
Bro. B. Wm. Brickel 1889, 1890
Bro. Elmer Shaver 1891
Bro. Calvin Spencer 1892
Bro. Albert Hay 1894
Bro. Charles Gregory 1895
Bro. John Phillips 1896, 1899
Bro. George Morris 1897
Bro. James Benniger 1898
20th Century Worshipful Masters Bro. Charles Gregory 1900
Bro. George Morris 1901
Bro. George Bray 1902
Bro. Eugene Honeywell 1903
Bro. Allan Snyder 1904
Bro. George Hileman 1905, 1912
Bro. William Neely 1906
Bro. Asa E. Lewis 1907,1911
Bro. Ralph Brickel 1908
Bro. Harry Croop 1909
Bro. John Jeter, Jr. 1910
Bro. William Lazarus 1913
Bro. John Fleming 1914
Bro. Harold Wildrick 1915
Bro. Claude Isaacs 1916, 1919
Bro. Frederick Houck 1917
Bro. Floyd Thompson 1918
Bro. Frank Garrahan 1920
Bro. William Jeter 1921
Bro. Carl Holtz 1922
Bro. Charles Gregory 1923
Bro. Corey Gordon 1924
Bro. A. Donald Fratz 1925
Bro. Daniel Shaver 1926
Bro. David Casmore 1927, 1931
Bro. Arthur Brown 1928
Bro. Donald Herbert 1929
Bro. R. Harold Rood 1930
Bro. Frederick Eck 1932
Bro. Calvin McHose 1933
Bro. William Cairl, Jr. 1934
Bro. Ernest Smith 1935, 1942
Bro. Victor Schindel 1936
Bro. Joseph Blaine 1937
Bro. Clifford Ide 1938, 1943
Bro. Alfred Camp 1939
Bro. Russell Ide 1940
Bro. Ralph Hazeltine 1941
Bro. Albert Groblewski 1944
Bro. David Schooley 1945
Bro. Robert Bodycomb 1946
Bro. Arlean Bowman 1947
Bro. Granville Snowdon 1948
Bro. Ernest Caryl 1949
Bro. Albert Antanaitis 1950
Bro. Stanley Moore 1951
Bro. Thomas Robinson 1952
Bro. John Sheehan, Sr. 1953
Bro. Corey Rood 1954
Bro. Edward Hartman 1955
Bro. Elmer Major 1956
Bro. Ted Wilson 1957
Bro. Hayward Lancio 1958
Bro. Robert Rave 1959
Bro. Harry Ritts, Jr. 1960
Harry Swepston, Jr. 1961
Bro. Edward Hopa 1963
Bro. Carl Remley 1964
Bro. Robert Stephenson 1965
Bro. Robert K. Lewis 1966
Bro. Richard Stroud 1967
Bro. Reuel Lasher 1969
Bro. Joseph Allen, Jr. 1971
Bro. Laning Harvey III 1972
Bro. Charles Bartlett 1974
Bro. Thomas Williams 1977
Bro. Donald Lockhart 1978
Bro. Arthur Bird 1979
Bro. Nelson Williams 1986
Bro. Donald Smith 1987
Bro. Donald F. Shaffer 1995
Bro. John Sheehan, Jr. 1996
Bro. J. William Haddle, Jr. 1997, 1999
Bro. Charles A. Vanderhoff 1998
21st Century Worshipful Masters Bro. Leonard A. Dorrance 2001
Bro. Robert K. Lewis, 2010
As of 2013, our Lodge has had 125 Worshipful Masters.View the list ofLiving Past Masters.
Once regarded as a time to celebrate winter solstice by Ancient Masons, it later became a day to observe the life and works of St. John the Evangelist. Today, few Lodges celebrate it. For many Lodges, St. John's Day, December 27, marks the beginning of a new Worshipful Masters' tenure.
