Former Trenton resident Ralph Melvin Ferguson, retired Master Sgt., an 89-year-old resident of Independence, died at 9:30 p.m., Friday, June 11, 2021 at his residence with a family member by his side.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Monday, June 21, 2021 at the Edinburg Baptist Church, located west of Trenton.
Burial will be in Pilot Grove #2 Cemetery north of Jamesport, Missouri.
A family visitation will be held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Monday at the church.
Open visitation will be held from noon until 6 p.m. Sunday, June 20, 2021 at Slater-Neal Funeral Home.
Mr. Ferguson was born July 2, 1931 at Edinburg, the son of Robert T. and Neola Fern McWaid Ferguson. He started school in Edinburg. He graduated from Trenton High School in the late 1940’s. His parents moved to Trenton several years earlier and opened Ferguson Grocery store on 17th Street.
After graduating, he worked for the railroad in Chicago, IL. He moved back to Missouri and attended Chillicothe Business College. He then enlisted in the Army in the Signal Corp in 1952.
On Sept. 26, 1954, he married Frances “Wilberta” Royston at the Edinburg Baptist Church. She preceded him in death.
The Army took the couple and their two children to live in many interesting places, including Paris, France; Clark Air Force Base, Philippines; Ankara, Turkey and West Berlin, East Germany. Mr. Ferguson also served two tours of duty in Vietnam.
After retiring as a Master Sergeant, Mr. Ferguson went to work for the U.S. Postal Service in Kansas City, and both the couple’s children graduated from Trenton. The couple had made their home in Independence for over 47 years.
He is survived by a daughter, Debbie Mooney and her husband, Sonny of Sabetha, KS:, a son, Ralph D. Ferguson of Excelsior Springs; two grandsons, Nathan Vandevender and his wife, Kristen and Paul Vandevender and his wife, Mandi, all of Trenton; three great-grandsons, Korbin Vandevender, Ian Vande-vender and Dru Vandevender; and a great-granddaughter, Zoe Vandevender, all of Trenton.
In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Elgin Ferguson; three sisters, Lillian Scott, Rachel Wolf and Leona Mae Kinnamon; and a brother, Bob Ferguson.
Memorials are suggested to the Edinburg Baptist Church. They may be left with the funeral home.
Online condolences may be left at www.resthavenmort.com.
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