Charles Ferguson

1916 - 2021

Charles Ferguson

June 29, 1916 - March 20, 2021

Charles passed away March 20 at home on the farm where he spent most of his life. Charles was born at the family homestead in the Lewis River Valley June29, 1916 to James and Edith Ferguson. He was the middle of five brothers in the family. In 1929 the family moved to the current farm in the bottoms.

Charles attended Clover Valley Grade School. After the move, he attended and graduated from Woodland High School in 1934. Due to the depression, he attended one more year of high school for "enrichment". Charles then attended Lower Columbia College in its second year of existence and then transferred to Washington State College (now University) where he graduated in February of 1940. He met Ellen, his wife of 57 years there. The young couple moved to Duvall where he worked as a milk tester.

In 1943 the family moved back to Woodland and purchased his dad's dairy farm with his brother Byron. Byron and Charles successfully ran the dairy farm for over 70 years until Byron died in 2013.

Like his father who was a county commissioner, he was very active in community and agriculture organizations. He was a board member of the Mayflower Dairy Cooperative (now Darigold). He was a board member of the Lower Columbia College Foundation, Woodland School District, Woodland Port District. He was also fire district commissioner, Cowlitz County Boundary Review member, Woodland Chamber of Commerce president, Woodland Presbyterian Church Elder, Lions Club member, and active in many other dairy groups.

Amazingly after all the hours on the farm and community and dairy organization, he had time for fishing, hunting, boating, travel, rock hounding, card playing and of course storytelling and talking to others. He would love to talk to you about what is going on or the good old days. He was quite adventuresome as a young man, jumping freight trains and hitchhiking for several trips making it to New York and Mexico.

Charles is survived by his daughter Margaret Beck and his sons, Howard, James, Robert, and Doug. He also has seven grandchildren. He also has two great grandchildren. He also is survived by girlfriend Fran Hamilton of Phoenix, Ariz.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Ellen, brothers Wayne, Byron, Albert, Donald and granddaughter Rosemary.

Services were held March 30 and more info is available at Woodlandfh.com. Memorials may be made to Woodland Historical Museum PO Box 255 or Woodland Presbyterian Church PO Box 297, Woodland, WA 98674.