On June 17, 2011, Dean C. Ferris passed away peacefully at age 91 surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his wife, Edna T. Ferris and children, Dean S. Ferris (Joan) from Los Angeles, California; Jacqueline L. Ferris (Candy Williams) of Rehoboth, Delaware; and Miriam F. Morrow (Todd) of Severna Park, Maryland. He was also blessed with eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.


He was born on May 24, 1920 in Braddock (Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania to Ralph Elijah and Olive Hope Ferris, the youngest of four children. After graduating from Wilkinsburg High School, he attended Muskingum College in Ohio for two years and then, after WWII, graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, where he was a member of the choir and, on the Football team, his most favorite sport.. He was also a Golden Glove Boxer.


At the age of 21, he was drafted into the Army Air Corp. He served his country with distinction as a member of the 390th bomb group stationed in Parham/Suffolk on the northeast coast of England. As a B17 crew member he flew twenty-five missions against Nazi Germany. Loses on the unescorted, day-time missions were horrendous, none worse than one on October 14, 1943, known as "Black Thursday", when only 28 of the 228 planes involved survived the raid. He received numerous recognitions including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, and a Silver Star.


After being honorably discharged as a captain from the Army, he returned home and went to work for Westinghouse Electric. In 1944, he married Mildred Kenney, a nurse from Wilmington, Delaware and they eventually (1951) settled in Severna Park area where they resided until Mildred's death in 1985. They raised four children. Their third child, Robert, died in a plane crash in 1976 at the age of nineteen.


In 1988, he married Edna Tull and moved to Arnold. They were members of both Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church and St. Margarets Episcopal Church and were active in many volunteer activities such as Meals on Wheels. Dean and Edna also were regular volunteers at the Information Center (Tourist Booth) in Annapolis. Dean was an active member of the Salvation Army, the Elks, and the Kiwanis and was particularly active working with disabled children at Central Special School. He was on the founding board of Severn River Swim Club and also served as President of the Linstead Community Association.


Dean and Edna shared a common interest in traveling but their journeys were significantly restrained when Dean became wheelchair bound in 2000. Despite his disability, Dean continued to be an avid volunteer and regular attendee at his grandchildrens' many sports events. He was admired for his spirit and determination, positive outlook, and resolve. He will be remembered for his wonderful sense of humor -- he liked nothing better than a good joke.


A memorial service will be held at St. Margaret's Church in Annapolis on Friday, June 24th, at 2 PM. (1601 Pleasant Plains Road, Annapolis, Maryland, 21409) followed by a reception in the Parish Hall at 3PM. Those unable to attend the service, are welcome to attend the reception following. In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome to the Hospice of Chesapeake, 445 Defense Highway, Annapolis, Maryland, 21401 or the SPCA of Anne Arundel County, 1815 Bay Ridge Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland, 21403.