Richard Walter Ferguson

Richard Walter Ferguson, 80, of New Castle, died peacefully Saturday, March 25, 2023 at Lewis Gale Medical Center following a stroke. Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Elmo Ferguson and Catherine Frances (Cole) Wright, his stepfather, Harry Gordon Wright, and his grandparents, Fitzhugh and Maybelle Ferguson. Richard is survived by his wife, Linda Stull Ferguson, and four children and five grandchildren: Jamie Ferguson, of Ellicott City, Maryland and her daughter, Shelby; Jessica Stover and husband Matt, of Hardy, Virginia and their son, Drew; Julie Munz and husband Chris, of North Yarmouth, Maine and their sons, Jack, Sawyer, and Easton; and Matthew Ferguson and his longtime girlfriend, Kelsey Alcaraz, of Salem, Virginia. He also has three sisters: Harriet (and Roddy) Chestnut, Brenda (and Pat) Musselwhite, and Betty Sue Short, and two nephews and two nieces. Richard was born Thursday, February 4, 1943 and raised in Roanoke. He graduated from Jefferson High School in 1961. Richard served his country in the U.S. Marine Corp, as part of the 2D Battalion, 2nd Marines from September 1961 to September 1964. He was proud to be a Marine and served in Guantanamo during the Cuban Missile Crisis, something anyone knew who saw his 1973 Chevy truck tags, “CUBA 62.” Following his service to the country, he worked for General Electric in Salem for 39 years. He started there as a wireman and was an expediter prior to his retirement. The Commonwealth of Virginia was his home from the beginning to the end, he was proud to be a son of the South. Richard had many hobbies: an avid squirrel hunter in his youth turned purveyor of corn kernels for his furry friends in his retirement; a naturalist who knew every tree and every animal that made his meticulous backyard meadow a home; a car enthusiast – often looking for parts with his friend John Davis on Saturdays; a feracious reader (especially of John Grisham); a relentless Sudoku and crossword puzzle solver; a daily hiker along the Craig County Greenway Trail – a path he personally cared for the benefit of his community; a cursed but nonetheless devoted supporter of the University of Virginia athletic program; enjoying laughter – he had an amazing sense of humor that he passed onto his children, and a true connoisseur of Southern history, heritage, and culture, especially music – he loved the Allman Brothers Band. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a lifetime supporter of the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia. For all the many wonderful attributes of this simple but honest man that are most cherished by those that knew and loved him and to be most missed was Richard’s absolute dedication to his family and to his faith. He was a rock you could always rely on, no matter what. He might not have been always outspoken, but his silent presence was steady and always reassuring. We were fortunate for the time we had with him. He will be sorely missed but there is no doubt Richard is where he is meant to be now, with his Savior. A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 1, 2023, at the Mountain View Christian Church, 4201 Craig Valley Dr., New Castle, VA 24127, with his friend Jonathan Lee officiating. Burial will follow at Sherwood Memorial Park in Salem. Friends may visit with the family from 10 a.m. until the hour of the service at the church. Condolences can be addressed to 355 Camp Mitchell Road, New Castle, VA 24127. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his name to any of the following: Mountain View Christian Church; to the County of Craig, in attention for the Craig County Greenway Trail, P.O. 308, New Castle, VA 24127, or to the National Epilepsy Foundation at https://give.epilepsy.com/page/33651/donate/1 Paitsel Funeral Home of New Castle is serving the Ferguson family.