Calvin Mattson, 88, leader of fire unit

Calvin B. Mattson, 88, of Mount Laurel, a former administrator for the Insurance Co. of North America who was president of the fire department in Masonville, Burlington County, in 1988, died of congestive heart failure Wednesday, Oct. 16, at his home.

A World War II veteran, he served as president of the Eighth Air Force Historical Society in 1981, his wife, Blanche, said.

Mr. Mattson was a ball turret machine gunner in the belly of B-17s on 26 combat missions over Europe, including in one plane nicknamed Forbidden Fruit, she said.

As a member of the historical society, he attended many of its reunions in the United States and overseas.

Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Mattson graduated from West Philadelphia High School and after the war studied finance at Temple University, taking night classes, while working in the early days of his career with INA.

In the 1950s, INA transferred Mr. Mattson to Richmond, Ind., and then Peoria, Ill., where he opened a new office and was its administrator.

While in Richmond, his wife said, he was a member of the town board and president of the fire department in the suburb of Centerville.

In the early 1970s, he returned to the Philadelphia office, but was part of a significant layoff.

He worked in a department store at nights, his wife said, "and even went to pick apples."

Mr. Mattson had been a volunteer fireman wherever he lived, his wife said, beginning in Lumberton, going on to Indiana and Illinois, and back to Burlington County.

After back surgery in 2007 made it difficult for him to get onto fire trucks, he became a member of the Mount Laurel Fire Police.

With the March of Dimes, his wife said, he was for a time the director of an annual fund-raising walk in Burlington County.

A member of INA's Quarter Century Club, he also was a Mason and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. INA gave him a Good Samaritan award, his wife said, for administering CPR to a man stricken in a company office.

"His hobby was entering contests," she said, and among his winnings were two cars.

"But his claim to fame," she said, "was running out of gas many, many times."

Besides his wife of 63 years, Mr. Mattson is survived by son Bruce, daughter Darlynn Ford, a sister, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

A viewing was set from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Oct. 22, at Mount Laurel Home for Funerals, 212 Ark Rd., Mount Laurel, N.J. 08054, before a noon funeral service there. Interment is to be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Medford.

Donations may be made to Cathedral of the Woods, 100 Stokes Rd., Medford Lakes, N.J. 08055.

Condolences may be offered to the family at the funeral home's address.