Joseph V. Ferry
December 18, 1919 - January 20, 2015
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Joseph V. Ferry
December 18, 1919 - January 20, 2015
Obituary
Joseph V. Ferry passed away in Bellingham on Tuesday January 20, 2015 at 10:15 am. He was born on December 18, 1919 in Cambridge Massachusetts.
In his youth, Joe hitched rides, rode freight trains and pitched camps from Massachusetts to Mexico and back. He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in New Hampshire working both as a clerk and in the field on various projects. In 1945 Joe graduated from Salem Teachers College and began his long career as a teacher. He started here in the U.S., teaching high school for 8 years in Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Joe continued teaching with the Department of Defense as an education advisor for troops in post-occupation Japan for 4 and a half years, later guiding military dependents “on-base” as a high school teacher in Germany, France, Libya and Japan for 28 years.
During Joe’s remarkable, adventurous life of hitchhiking, train hopping, world travel and service, he drove stick shift, fought forest fires in Nevada and was able to type 50 wpm on a mechanical typewriter; he did all these things literally “singlehanded”- a congenital birth defect prevented the use of his right arm.
Joe was a dedicated husband, a devoted father, a great friend, and an inspiration to generations of students across the globe. Joe said the highlights of his life were: “the decades in the field of education in the US and abroad; the friends I made along the way; meeting and marrying my wonderful Japanese wife; and my daughter who was made in France, born in Libya and raised in Japan.”
His funeral service will be held on January 30th at 1pm at Moles Farewell Tributes – Greenacres at 5700 Northwest Drive in Ferndale, WA 98248.
Graveside Service
- Date & Time: January 30, 2015 (12:00 AM)
- Venue: Moles Farewell Tributes - Greenacres
- Location: 5700 Northwest Dr Ferndale, WA 98248 - (Get Directions)
18 responses to Joseph V. Ferry
Joel Dames says:
January 20, 2015
You only know what you’ve got when it’s gone. I learned a lot about life from Joe. I realize it now. He never said a bad word about anyone. He never gossiped.
Joe was always in the moment. He appreciated everything in life down to his cup of coffee. He was always saying how great this is or that was. I never really understood the significance of all that until now. This has been my goal all along, to learn to live in the present moment.
I am a loner and lose contact for years. I just wish I could call him at least more often. But we only get that chance one time.
Mary Bramel and Raymond Conrad Abbott says:
January 20, 2015
For many years we taught with Joe at Zama High School. Our sons, Dr. Kevin Abbott and Dr. Barry Abbott, were both in his typing class in the late 1970s. They remember “Mr. Ferry” fondly. We will all miss him.
Larry says:
January 20, 2015
Never had Mr Ferry for a class, but Being somewhat of a joker we would always meet in the hallway and exchange laughs, I remember him to this day. God Bless.
Fred & Janis Ferry says:
January 20, 2015
In memory to my wonderful Uncle Joe and love to Kim & Aunt Kimi in your time of sadness.Your dad & loving husband will always be remembered by me with a heart felt smile for his humor and the wonderful journeys he took me on in 1963/1964 when I lived with him in Mannheim Germany. He shared with me his deep well of knowledge and European history fantastic trips through out Europe in those days. Including a snowy Christmas Eve on a Yugoslavian road side eating a can of Dinty Mores beef stew heated on his coleman stove on the back end of his precious 57 Pontiac station wagon, and sharing bread with a Yugoslavian truck driver,
And to this day that joy and knowledge that he gave me, has made me a better person. His legacy, gave me the strength and courage to travel the world and enjoy its wonders.
Thank you Uncle I will miss your wise smile & puns.
Love your Nephew Fred.
EmIly Hinojosa says:
January 20, 2015
I offer my heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. Ferry. I was one of the many students blessed to have his teaching and gentle spirit typed in our hearts, Sincerely,
Emily Pridom Hinojosa