William Ramsay Ferris Jr. was born on February 9, 1945. He was the first of four children born to William Ramsay Ferris and Mary Robb (Settles) Ferris. His Dad was eager to start a family after spending the war years in the Army Air Corp as a pilot stationed in the South Pacific. Bill Sr. and Mary had become friends and had corresponded as friends throughout the war. Returning to the U.S. through San Francisco, Bill stopped to visit Mary, swept her off her feet, proposed and married her within 7 days. Mary’s parents waved goodbye to their only daughter as she left on a train with her dashing new husband and headed for Sarasota, Florida for Bill Sr.’s next military assignment. That train trip was the beginning of Bill Jr.’s history as he was born just short of 10 months later! He always attributed his lifelong love of trains to that beginning.
As the war effort wound down, the new Ferris Family left active military service and when little Bill was 9 months old they decided to establish their home in California. Bill considered California his home for the rest of his life.
Bill was raised in Los Altos, California where he enjoyed playing in the orchards, wading in the creeks, going to school and camp during the summers, making many friends, attending Christ Church where the family was very active and involved, taking dance lessons at Bedoines School of Dance and welcoming two sisters and a brother to his family. He attended elementary school, Palo Alto Military Academy for junior high and was a graduate of Los Altos High School, class of 1963. After high school, Bill took as wonderful graduation camping trip to Alaska. He enjoyed every memory of that great adventure.
Bill attended Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah. This was a time when the world was in turmoil with the Vietnam War heating up. Bill was restless, the draft loomed over his head and he made the decision to leave college and join the Navy. He served in the Navy for the next 9 years, spending much of those early years in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Because of vision issues he could not qualify as a pilot, however he served as Air Crew on many planes. His earliest service had him stationed aboard the aircraft carrier, Hancock. He flew on the AWAX FIFO reconnaissance plane which was First in First Out of many air battles. He was frequently in and out of air bases all along the coast of Vietnam, including Da Nang. It was on these bases that he was exposed to the Agent Orange, which ultimately took his health and eventually his life.
Upon leaving the Navy in 1974, Bill went to work as Field Sales Engineer. He moved around a bit for his job, but ultimately returned to the Bay Area where he went to work for Hamilton Avnet. It was here that Bill met Donna in 1984. They became coworkers and friends, but 17 months later on August 21, 1985, he asked her on their first date and on that same evening, keeping with family tradition, he proposed. They married on November 30, 1985 and settled in San Jose, CA.
Bill embraced family life with a deep love for every member of his family near and far. A lifelong learner and avid reader, he enjoyed many subjects, but mostly History. His study of English history, World War II, the Civil War and so much more made him a walking encyclopedia on those subjects. Bill had a love for the mountains, camping and fishing. Bill and Donna bought a book of all the lakes in California and started visiting them, hoping to see them all. They loved trains and we visited many train yards and took many train rides. Then when grandsons started to arrive he passed on his love of trains by building a backyard railroad that all enjoyed for many years. Bill loved to travel and was a great travel partner. He would take any detour to see an interesting place or see new territory. Bill and Donna visited many small towns and spent time with Postmasters, General Store owners, Museum managers and other fascinating people. They had many adventures. Bill was a genealogist and first pulled together extensive records left by his Grandmother and others and then worked over many years to refine and build on that work. They traveled to many states and to Canada to track family history. To honor their family heritage, they went to the Celtic Games in several states. Bill became a member of the Scottish American Military Society, known as SAMS. He loved wearing his Ramsay Plaid Kilt and uniform and helping at the games.
During their 33 years of marriage, Bill enjoyed a career working in management roles in electronics and semiconductor industries working in both start up and much larger companies. He was well respected. As their family grew, Bill and Donna shared all the things that life brought their way and overall life was good. Children produced grandchildren who were the apple of their grandfather’s eyes! Bill was a devoted, active and involved husband, father and grandfather who was always there for his family. He was well loved.
In August of 2017, Bill was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme IV, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. Bill suffered from diabetes and other effects of the Agent Orange exposure as well, all of which complicated his condition and contributed to his death. He faced this battle with courage, patience and hope. Bill died 13 months after diagnosis on September 13, 2018, with his wife, daughter and wonderful caregiver, Elah, by his side. He will be missed forever.
Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Donna MacDougall Ferris
A son, Brian James Tharp and his wife, Wendy Wheelwright Tharp, now living in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Granddaughters, Penelope Ann Tharp and Bailey Rose Tharp.
Daughter, Robin Denise Hamnett and her husband, James J. Hamnett of San Jose, CA. Grandsons, Brian Wilfred Swarts, Andrew Henry Swartz and Eric Colin Swartz. Granddaughter, Lillian Eileen Victoria Hamnett.
His Mother, Mary Robb Ferris of Annapolis, Maryland;
Sister, Caroline Robb Ferris Hall of Arlington, VA; mother of nephews, Mark Alexander Hall, Mathew Lawrence Hall and Matt’s wife Elizabeth;
Brother, Robert Morris Ferris and his wife, Carlene Marie Ramus of Eugene, Oregon
Sister, Mary Gales Ferris Siebert, wife of Robert Andrew Siebert of Arnold, Maryland and their children, Mary Katherine ‘Katie’ Siebert Watt married to Eric Watt (parents of Madeline, Jack, Nate and Cameron Watt), Kelly Siebert Garner married to Dan Garner (parents of MacKenzie and Cooper Garner) and Patrick Siebert.
He also leaves behind many cousins, extended family and friends.
He was predeceased by his father, William Ramsay Ferris Sr. His paternal grandparents, VanWyck Ferris and Elizabeth G. M. Ramsay Ferris and his maternal grandparents, Robert Jackson Settles and Edna Dora Robb Settles.
Bill was a genealogist who spent many hours searching family history and recording his ancestry. We imagine that after a great reunion in Heaven with his Dad and other near relatives, that Bill is preparing a feast to bring all those ancestors together to answer all the questions left unanswered. We look forward to being a part of that reunion one day! He leaves a big hole in our lives here on earth, but we know that he is soaring free and relieved of all pain and earthly cares. He will live in our hearts until we meet again.
