Robert "Bob" C. Ferrara

Bob was born in the winter of 1925 on the family ranch near Academy. He was the youngest of five children born to Michael and Elvira Ferrara, who arrived in America just after the turn of the century.

Affectionately known as “Bobby” by his family, he often recalled his mother’s kindness. Eager to follow in his father’s footsteps, he began developing his farming and cattle- ranching skills at an early age. During his junior and senior years of high school, a shortage of ranch hands during World War II allowed him to work alongside his father. He attended Dry Creek school in Academy, and graduated from Clovis High School in 1943, with childhood classmates who became life-long friends.

Bob served in the US Army from 1944-1946 in combat in Luzon, Philippines and occupied Japan with the 25th Infantry Division known as “Tropic Lightening”, earning the rank of Technical Sergeant and awarded the Bronze Star for combat in Luzon. He was proud to serve his country and said many times he would do it again. He loved flying the US flag in front of his house, it meant so much to him.

Anxious to help his parents, he returned home to the ranch where he would assist his father and eventually take over the farming and ranch work, and live the rest of his life. He had an aptitude for fixing things from his corral to his Caterpillar tractors, harvesters, and anything else. He knew when the time was right to plant, to harvest and to plow; how to care for his cattle and keep the ranch in good shape. In 2014, he was awarded the Fresno-Kings County Cattleman of the Year Award. His cleanly disked, planted fields and golden grain fields were a beautiful sight to behold and he loved to watch them grow. At harvest’s end in August, he would look forward to a retreat to the ocean to cool off and relax. He farmed much of the ground now covered with houses in northeast Fresno and Clovis and beyond, even into Madera County. As a farmer, he raised thousands of acres of beautiful dry-farmed wheat and oat crops which kept him busy year-around, which he continued to do well past retirement age. At age 90, he could still climb up onto one of his D-6 Caterpillar tractors, in fact that year he planted nearly all of the 400 acres across the road himself- with a “pit crew”. Even in his last days of life, he was still dreaming of driving a “CAT” and making the ground look pretty.

Bob spent decades cultivating both his land and his family. He was married to Barbara Weldon, with whom he raised his daughters, Kathy and Jane, on the family ranch. He was also married to Marie Scott, and together they shared the joy of welcoming grandchildren into the world. Throughout these years, the ranch remained the heart of his life, and the ocean remained his place of peace. In 2008 Bob married Peggy Bos, joining with her dedication to the Clovis-Big Dry Creek Museum and the restoration of the old Academy Church. They spent their years supporting the museum, getting together with friends, and hosting family gatherings for their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, always anchored by Peggy’s delicious meals. Affectionately known as “Grandpa Bob”, he enjoyed taking grandchildren out to feed cows on the truck, for a tractor ride around the ranch across the fields and through the creek, playing outdoor games with them, or accepting a challenge at checkers. But to the end, nobody ever could beat Grandpa at checkers.

Bob was a kind man who loved his animals, his ranch and especially his family. He was honest and true to his family, friends and neighbors, both young and old. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

He is survived by his wife, Peggy Bos Ferrara, daughters Kathy (Dennis) Doll, Jane Scott, stepchildren Tim (Fawn) Bos, Kali (Forrest) Linn; Harvey Scott, Brad Scott and Stan Scott; grandchildren Denice (Joel) Saxman, Robert (Sheri) Scott, Tim (Annie) Scott, Matt (Melissa) Scott, Charlotte (Trujillo) Amy, Kenny (Lindy) Scott, Dennis (Kallie) Scott, step-grandchildren Erika (Aaron) Hoskins, Brett Bos, Katelyn (Aaron) Cunningham, Honey (Mike) Magnone, Jake (Charla) Wallace, Kenny (Dulcie) Salisbury; and 31 total combined great-grandchildren.

He is predeceased by his parents, Michael and Elvira Ferrara, his siblings Filomena (Joe) Hill, Giovina Ferrara, Yolanda (Augie) Bringetto and Michael Ferrara; his wife, Marie; step-daughter, Peggy Scott; son-in-laws Dan Sullivan and Randy Scott; and grandson Brian Scott.

Funeral service will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at the Academy Church, 10667 N. Madsen Avenue, Clovis, CA. 93619; Interment to follow at the Academy Cemetery, 18824-18844 Mendocino Ave, Clovis, CA 93619.