Freelan Ray Ferrell, lifelong resident of St. Albans, passed away Monday, Nov. 17, 2008, at CAMC Memorial Hospital, after an extended battle with heart disease. He was born July 11, 1923. In addition to his parents, James and Mary, Freelan was preceded in death by six brothers, Adrian, Frenchie, Hassel, Kyle, Raleigh, and Truman. Freelan and his wife, Virginia, were members of St. Andrew United Methodist Church in St. Albans for nearly 60 years. Freelan served in the Navy during World War II from 1943-46 on the aircraft carrier Kalinin Bay in the Pacific Theater. In 1982 he retired from a 41-year career at Union Carbide. During that time he managed auditing projects in South Charleston, Institute, California, Texas, Indiana, New York, and Puerto Rico. When his sons were young, Freelan served them and many other youth as Cub master for Cub Scout Pack 31, and later as assistant Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 146, both sponsored by St. Andrew. He was also inducted into the Boy Scouts of America, Order of the Arrow, an Honorary Group for scouts. After retirement, Freelan and Virginia became known throughout the state for their arts and crafts work, making artistic tree sculptures that still adorn homes throughout the tri-state. Freelan was also an avid trout fisherman. His favorite pastime was spent on the Cranberry River with family and friends, where he would fly fish with his own hand-tied flies. Surviving: Virginia, his wife of 65 years; sons and their spouses, Alan and Pat Ferrell of Lafayette, Ind., and Steve and Patty Ferrell of Seymour, Ind.; granddaughter, spouse, and great grandchild Rebecca, Richard, and Charlotte Thomas of Alexandria, Va.; grandson Jonathan Ferrell of Huntington.
-- Charleston WV Gazette, 11/20/2008