BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — Joseph Richard Ferrell Sr., 85, of Bridgeport, passed away January 1, 2013 at United Hospital Center.
Born July 30, 1927, in Huntington, he was a son of the late Peter and Margaret Griffin Ferrell. Also preceding him in death was one sister, Evelyn Keseg, and three brothers, James, Peter and Michael Ferrell.
He grew up near Chapmanville, and joined the U.S. Navy after graduating from high school, before the end of World War II. He later graduated from West Virginia University and received his Master of Arts degree from Marshall University. He spent his career as a teacher, coach and principal in a number of school systems, most notably at Chapmanville High School and at Union High School in Mount Storm. He was also a small businessman who operated a grocery store in Chapmanville and a convenience store in Gormania.
Survivors include his beloved wife of 60 years, Beverly (Grooters) Ferrell; seven sons, Joseph (Candace) Ferrell Jr. of Birmingham, Ala., John (Susan) Ferrell of Brush Prairie, Wash., David (Kathy) Ferrell, Daniel (Tamela) Ferrell and Paul (Roberta) Ferrell, all of Bridgeport, Robert Ferrell of Indianapolis, Ind., and Stephen (Laurence) Ferrell of Knoxville, Tenn.; eight grandchildren: Rebecca, Matthew, Rachel, Nathan, Joseph III, Lauren, Thomas and Caroline; three sisters, Mary Catherine (Donald) Rathbun of Winchester, Va.; Margaret Shortridge of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and Regina (James) Demming of Ormond Beach, Fla., and many nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in All Saints Catholic Church, 317 East Main Street, Bridgeport, at 10 a.m. Monday, January 7, with Rev. Father Benedict Kapa as celebrant. Interment will follow in the W.Va. National Cemetery at Pruntytown with Military Graveside Rites by the U.S. Navy Honor Guard and the Harrison County Honor Guard.
Friends will be received from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Ford Funeral Home, 215 East Main Street, Bridgeport.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Joe’s memory to Peoples Hospice, 327 Medical Park Drive, Bridgeport, WV 26330.
Condolences may be left at www.fordfuneralhomes.com
The Ferrell family has entrusted the care and arrangements to the Ford Funeral Home of Bridgeport.
Merle (Catbird) Dingess