Robert V. Ferguson

On November 12, 2024, Robert V. (“Bob”) Ferguson, of Daleville, Indiana passed away at the age of 83. 

Bob was born in Berea, Ohio on July 5, 1941 to William A. and Hannah May Ferguson (nee Smith). At age six, the family, including older brother Bill, moved to a farm in Campbellsburg, Indiana. Bob graduated from Campbellsburg High School in 1959.

Bob attended Purdue University, earning a BS in Agriculture Education. He was a proud member of Chauncey Co-op, where during a party his guitar caught the eye of Ruth Ann. This led to their marriage in 1964 and their four children. Bob went on to get his Masters and Educational Specialist degrees, also from Purdue.

Bob started his career as an Ag teacher at North White School Corporation before becoming an Asst. Principal and then Principal in the Decatur County Community Schools. In 1976, Bob moved his family back to his hometown of Campbellsburg to be the Principal of West Washington High School. He considered it one of his greatest privileges to be able to sign all four of his children’s high school diplomas.

In early 1982, his loving wife of nearly 18 years, Ruth Ann, passed away unexpectedly. He soon reconnected with his childhood friend, Paula, and they were married in October 1983, bringing Paula’s daughter, Melissa, into the family. They spent the next 40 years as partners in life until her death in December of 2023.

In 1988, Bob and Paula moved to Daleville, Indiana, to become the Superintendent of the Daleville Community Schools, and they made Daleville their permanent home. In 1994, Bob received the call to become the Educational Director of the Red Bird Christian School, part of the United Methodist Red Bird Mission in Beverly, Kentucky. For the next 15 years, he would commute weekly between Daleville and the mission, logging well over 400,000 miles by the time he retired in 2009.

Music was a central part of Bob’s life. He started by singing and playing guitar with his brother, Bill, and their school friends. This continued up through his time at Red Bird Mission, where he and his friend, Craig Dial, would perform their “Dog and Pony Show” for the volunteers at work camp…even recording a CD “Finally… Monday Night Music.” He was always a member of his church’s choir, and with Paula, performed many duets in and out of church.

He was a man of deep faith, was active in the United Methodist Church, serving in church leadership, and as a Sunday school teacher, lay leader and office volunteer. He began each day with the Upper Room devotional, and tried to live out that faith in everything he did.

Bob was preceded in death by his wives, Ruth Ann and Paula, his parents, William and Hannah, his brother, Bill, and grandson, Timothy Benningfield.

Survivors include his daughters: Rhonda (Max) Greene of Campbellsburg, Rebecca (Andrew) Daigle of West Lafayette, and Melissa Benningfield of New Albany; sons, Robert Ferguson of Indianapolis and Ronald (Laura) Ferguson of Arlington, Virginia; 19 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins and friends.

A visitation for family and friends will be held at the Community of Hope UMC in Muncie on Friday, November 22, 2024 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. with the service following at 3:00 p.m. A second service will be held at New Hope UMC near Salem on Saturday, November 23, 2024 with visitation from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. with the service following at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at the Claysville Cemetery, Campbellsburg, Indiana. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ballard and Sons Funeral Home in Daleville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Red Bird Mission, United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), local food pantry or children’s charity. 

You may express condolences or share a memory of Bob at www.ballardandsons.com.