Ralph Joseph Fera

Ralph Joseph Fera, of Hillsborough, N.C., died in his home at the age of 77 years on December 26, 2011. He is survived by his wife Dorothy; son, Dennis; daughter, Marla; granddaughter, Hanna; and brother Joseph.
Ralph was born on April 25, 1934, in Mt. Pleasant, Pa., the second child of four children of Vito and Victoria Fera. Ralph dated his wife Dorothy since the time of the high school junior prom in Masontown, Pa., and they were married for 57 years at the time of his passing.
Ralph entered the Marine Corps shortly after high school. He also spent time in the Air Force and later the Army, retiring as a 'full bird' Army colonel from the Army Reserve. Between his service in the aforementioned branches of the military, he earned two Master's Degrees, one in Education at Buffalo State University and a Masters in Counseling at Canisius College. He became a guidance counselor in the Buffalo Public School system before retiring in North Carolina where he was a very active participant as a trumpet player for the Salvation Army, Durham Community Concert Band, New Horizons Band and other musical groups in the Triangle Region.
His memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012 at 1 p.m. at the Chapel Hill Bible Church in Chapel Hill, N.C.