John Powell Ferratt

Abingdon, Va. - John Powell Ferratt, Jr. (Jack) 83, passed away Tuesday, January 5, 2016, at Johnston Memorial Hospital. He was born in Norfolk, Va., son of the late J. Powell Ferratt and Lelia Owens Ferratt. Jack graduated from Matthew Fontaine Maury High School in Norfolk, and he then earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. While a student at Virginia Tech, Jack was a Sergeant in the Corps of Cadets, Company C, and was a member of Tau Beta Pi, the National Honor Engineering Society. He later graduated from the University of Virginia with a Masters degree in Nuclear Engineering. Jack worked for 30 years for the Army Corps of Engineers, Office of the Chief in Washington, D.C. He served as a deacon at Christian Assembly in Vienna, Va.Following his retirement, Jack and his wife moved to Abingdon where he soon became very active in the local community. Jack was a passionate Bible scholar, a prayer warrior and a Sunday School teacher. He was recognized as a Minister of the Gospel by Fellowship International. He was also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and he enjoyed participating in Civil War and Revolutionary War re-enactments. An avid reader, Jack enjoyed attending classes at the College for Older Adults in Abingdon. Jack ran the Boston Marathon twice, and he also enjoyed canoeing. He was a geneaologist, an artist and a photographer, and in his retirement years he found joy in being a shepherd of sheep and an innkeeper.Jack is survived by his loving and faithful wife of 54 years, Joyce Hayter Ferratt; sons Brion (Laura) Ferratt of Keller, Texas, Bruce (Melissa) Ferratt of Fairfax, Va., and Mason (Jill) Ferratt of San Diego, Calif.; his grandchildren John, Carter, Samuel, Cole, Bowen, Amelia, Emory and Luke; his sister Lelia Mae Ferratt Leggett of Virginia Beach, Va.; and five nieces and nephews.The funeral service for Jack Ferratt will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 9, 2016, in the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service with the Rev. John Thrasher and the Rev. Robert Countiss officiating. Special music will be provided by Glenn Patterson. Burial will follow at Knollkreg Memorial Park where pallbearers will be Tommy Leggett, Trey Smith, Aaron Smith, Steve Dotson, Russell Jessee, Dwayne Ball and J.W. Hormsby. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Barker, Larry Crane, Ron Jessee, Jim Cowan, Palmer Dotson, Chip Smith, Tom Colabella and Jim Rowlette.The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Friday, January 8, 2016, at the funeral homes Main Street Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Providence Community Church, 19175 Woodland Hills Road, Abingdon, VA 24210, and to the Handbell Choir Fund, Abingdon United Methodist Church, 101 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210.Those wishing to share memories and express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Jack Ferratt and his family are in the care of Farris Funeral Service and Crematory, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210 (276-623-2700).