Wendell N. Masten of Lyndonville, Vt., passed away unexpectedly Friday evening, Dec. 28, 2007 at the age of 91. He was born Dec. 21, 1916, in Lyndon, one of six children born to Ernest and Gertrude (Jones) Masten. He was predeceased by his three brothers, Gerald, Ralph, and Gordon; and by his two sisters, Velma Drown and Arlene Masten. Wendell graduated from St. Johnsbury Trade School in 1936. He loved baseball and was good enough to have received a tryout with the old Boston Braves. He went to work driving milk truck to and from Boston during the depression and the war. Later, he worked for Gulf Oil Co., setting up gas pumps. His first Gulf station was in St. Johnsbury at the intersection of Concord Avenue and Portland Street. He built Masten's Gulf Station on Broad Street in Lyndonville just north of the diner and operated that for 17 years. He later operated Masten's Motor Shop, a small engine repair shop located just north of his old Broad Street station. Mr. Masten was a member of the Lyndonville Rotary Club and was known as a great storyteller. He was a 60-year member of Crescent Lodge 66 in Lyndonville and Mt. Sinai Temple 3 in Montpelier. He loved both the Masons and the Shriners and was particularly fond of driving the fire brigade trucks in area parades. This past year, the Mastens sold their camp on Shadow Lake in Glover where he loved to hunt and fish. He was fond of golfing and was an early flier. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Abbie (Chapman) Masten; two daughters, Marjorie Willard and husband James of Bonita Springs, Fla., and Nancy Duerinck and husband Wayne of Burlington, Vt.; five grandchildren, Jackie, Missi, and Tom, Tarn and Aaron; 10 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Thursday, Jan 3, 2008, at 1 p.m. at the Guibord Funeral Home. Family friend, the Rev. Barbara Dwyer, will officiate. Burial will be in May 2008 at the Lyndon Center Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held at the funeral home Wednesday 4 to 7 p.m. and will conclude with a Masonic service at 6:45 p.m. Contributions, marked in Wendell Masten's name for 'burn care', may be directed to Shriner's Hospital for Children, attention: Donations, 51 Blossom Road, Boston, MA 02114-2699.