CALCUTTA, Ohio — Harold Ellsworth Ferguson, 82, of Old Fredericktown Road, Calcutta, died at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, May 10, 2009, from a sudden illness and resulting complications with a long-standing heart condition.
Harold was born on Kountz Avenue in Wellsville, Ohio, May 17, 1926, and was a son of the late Ralph E. and Rose (Krieger) Ferguson.
He attended Walker School and then East Liverpool High School until he was 16.
Harold served in the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division, 87th ABAT Battalion, as a glider trooper and was stationed in Germany and France during World War II.
He was a member of the Wellsville First United Methodist Church, the Order of Eastern Star Crystal Chapter and Wellsville Masonic Blue Lodge #180.
He was a machinist and was employed over the years by Hall China, Treadwell Industries and Weirton Steel, from which he retired as a master mechanic.
He also was a farmer his entire life. His farm, Calcutta Farms, was nationally recognized as a historic herd by the American Angus Association.
He was a member of the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association, the Ohio Angus Association, the American Angus Association and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, as well as a charter member of the Columbiana-Mahoning-Trumbull Cattlemen’s Association.
He is survived by his children, H. Rodney Ferguson of Rittman, Ohio, Janet Ferguson Lyons of Manhattan, Kan., Linda A. Ensinger of Bowling Green, Ohio, Paula K. Webber of Lisbon, Ohio, William E. Ferguson of Calcutta and Mary Ferguson of Luray, Kan.; 12 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Louise (Prince) Ferguson and his sister, Dorothy Persohn.
A celebration of Harold’s life was held May 14 at the Calcutta Chapel of the Martin MacLean Altmeyer Funeral Homes.
Burial is in Spring Hill Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or the Harold E. Ferguson Memorial Fund, which has been established to enhance the youth beef cattle program in Columbiana County, Ohio, c/o Paula Webber, 12033 state Route 164, Lisbon, OH 44432.
