James Ferguson

James Robert Ferguson (Bob or Pop as he was better known) went to be with his Savior, Jesus Christ, September 1, 2013. He was the last living child of the late Pearl Ruth Golladay Ferguson and Luther Russell Ferguson. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Louise Wurst, Emily Frazier, Edrie Miller, Hilda Dowdy, Clarice Salmons, and brothers, Fred and Stan Ferguson and great grandson Kaden Dodd. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ruby E. Ferguson ; his daughters Cindy Dodd and Sherry Shrader and husband Jeff; grandchildren, Joshua and Rachel Shrader, Kyle Ferguson Dodd and wife Brittany, Kayla and Katie Dodd; great-grandchildren Landon Shrader and Leighton Clay; and many nieces and nephews.
Born in Hinton, West Virginia, he later made his home in Richmond, Virginia to be near his girls and grandchildren, but always considered Hinton to be home.
When he was seventeen, he joined the Navy and fought in WWII on the beaches of Iwo Jima and in the invasion of Okinawa. After 3+ years in the Navy, he joined the West Virginia National Guard where he served as Company Commander of the Hinton Guard, and then commanded the 3rd Squadron 107th Armored Calvary Regimen Headquarters in Bluefield, WV. After retiring in 1975, he served in the Retired Reserve for 10 additional years.
Pop was a man of service and believed in God, Country and Family. He was a long time member of Miller Memorial Methodist Church in Hinton and then of Bethany Place Baptist Church in Richmond where he served as a Deacon. A retired Machinist for the C&O Railroad and a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the National Guard, he volunteered with the West Virginia Water Festival and Boat Races; played Santa on occasion; and volunteered in Richmond with the International Mission Board. His hobbies were hunting, fishing, golfing, watching any sport his grandchildren were playing, and following the West Virginia Mountaineers.
He was a patriot, man of integrity, faith and courage who leaves a legacy of love of life, family, and country. He was a hero to his grandchildren and his family will all miss his tales of days gone by.
A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at Bennett Funeral Home in Midlothian, VA on Thursday, September 5th at 6pm. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. On Saturday, September 7th a service will be held at 1pm at the Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors in Hinton, WV, with burial to follow at Restwood Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions to Wounded Warriors Project or the Salvation Army.