Barbara Alys Ferguson

FERGUSON, BARBARA ALYS SHARP, "Bobbie", aged 92, passed away on November 17, 2007 after a short illness. Bobbie was born in 1915 in Los Angeles, California, and spent the first 17 years of her life in Mexico where her father was manager of a silver mine during the Mexican Revolution. Her stories of Pancho Villa and the life in a mining camp became family lore. Due to lack of schools Bobbie and her siblings moved with their mother to Los Angeles. Bobbie graduated from Los Angeles High School and later from the Art Center School. Then, in 1938, Bobbie's father was transferred to New York City, where he became President of the Howe Sound Mining Corp. The family took up residence in Larchmont, NY. At this time Bobbie met and married Clyde Gordon Ferguson of New Rochelle. Their daughter was born while her father was serving as a Lt. in the US Navy in the Pacific during World War II. During the 44-year marriage Bobbie and "Fergie" traveled extensively attending life insurance conventions and boasted that they had played golf on most of the top PGA courses. On one occasion a board meeting was interrupted to announce Bobbie's hole-in-one. The Fergusons lived in Narberth and Bethlehem, PA at this time, where Fergie was head of a Provident Mutual Life Insurance in Allentown. In 1978 the Fergusons retired to Port St Lucie, FL, where golf and boating on the Inland Waterway were a pleasant part of their lives for many years. Bobbie was an active volunteer all her life and very patriotic She served as a Regent and Color Guard for the DAR, was President of the Penn Valley Woman's Club, as well as President of her chapter of the PEO Sisterhood. She was also very active in the First Congregational Church of Port St. Lucie. Bobbie was the loving wife of Clyde Gordon Ferguson until his death in 1986. She spent her last seven years in Altamonte Springs at Merrill Gardens Assisted Living, where she had many friends. She was predeceased by her parents, Rose and Harold Sharp, and a brother Thomas W. Sharp. She is survived by her daughter, Donne Bitner of Orlando; four grandchildren, Andrew Bitner of Orlando, Major David Bitner of Ft. Bragg, NC, Katie Bitner of Pine Lake, GA, Suzanne Bitner of Orlando and two sisters, Lucille Kemple of Ithaca, NY and Pamela Sharp of Las Cruces, NM, as well as 5 great-grandchildren. A private memorial service and burial will be held in Jensen Beach, Florida.