Timothy "Tim" Lee Ferguson

Timothy Lee Ferguson, age 74, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, October 20, 2023, after being hospitalized for a routine procedure. Born in Cleveland, OH to Virginia and Howard Ferguson, Tim was one of four children.

Growing up, Tim was a good student, played baseball, and had a dog named Spooks that he has told many stories about over the years. He and his older brother, John, were close throughout their adult life. He and his younger brother, Erin Ferguson, spent many early mornings delivering newspapers by bike, often braving the Cleveland winter elements and neighborhood dogs. The Cleveland Newspaper did a special write-up on the two brothers and their bike route adventures. Little sister, Kelly, had a real go of it as she tried to corral her brothers.

After graduating from Valley Forge High School, Tim was drafted and joined the US Army and completed his tours in Vietnam. While overseas, he met and married his first wife traveling to Thailand, her home country, for their wedding. While there, Tim enjoyed and mastered the art of Thai cuisine which he shared eagerly with friends over the years. The couple moved to the US and had two daughters, Jennifer and Christine, before the marriage ended in divorce.

The army classified Tim as a Human Resource Administrator, which helped prepare him for a career with the Veterans Affairs Administration Office in Columbia, SC.

While stationed at Ft. Stewart, GA, he soon met his future wife, Terri, also a veteran, who was serving as a pharmacy specialist in a medical hospital unit. They married and their new little family, (Tim’s two daughters and Terri’s children, Danny and Shelli) would eventually settle in Lexington, SC. Tim and Terri were married for 35 years.

He enrolled at the University of South Carolina studying Business Administration and began working for the VA as a steno through the USC veteran student work-study program.

Meanwhile, Tim continued to advance with the VA, initially assisting them with claims brought against the agency, and later counseling veterans' families on death benefits. While never taking the bar exam, Tim was often in court defending the agency and/or pleading before a judge. He was a Certified Veterans Adjudicator.

He loved to cook, really enjoyed travel, kept abreast of politics, nationally and locally, and could speak eloquently on many subjects. Tim was a kind and giving man, who never met a stranger. He was not a selfish man; always thinking of others and their needs. He was a loving husband, father and devoted friend. He will be missed, and his passing is felt deeply by all.

A Catholic, he and Terri attended Our Lady of The Hills Catholic church in Columbia. He was a voracious reader, his parlor stacked high with paperbacks he’d finished or was about to pick up. Terri's job required extensive travel over the years, giving Tim all the time he needed to read. Tim’s brother, John, and wife Martha, were close by in Charleston where Tim and Terri spent the last weekend of his life enjoying one of their favorite places.

Tim entered the military as a private and retired after 23 years as Sergeant First Class from Fort Stewart, GA. He retired for a second time after 20 years with the Veterans Affairs Administration office in Columbia, SC. Tim served his country for a total of 43 years.

Tim is survived by his wife, Terri; children, Danny Thornton (Tulsa OK), Shelli Thompson (Tulsa OK), Christina Ferguson (Las Vegas, NV), and Jennifer Ferguson (Tel Aviv); sister, Kelly Ferguson Pickler (Cleveland OH); and brother, Erin Ferguson (FL).

He was predeceased by his brother, John Ferguson.

A memorial service for Timothy will be held Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 1:30 PM at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home - Lexington Chapel, 503 North Lake Drive, Lexington, South Carolina 29072.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.caughmanlexington.com for the Ferguson family.