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Edwin William Ferrall, age 84, passed away peacefully with family members by his side March 21, 2017, due to complications associated with Alzheimer’s. Ed was born August 16, 1932, in Los Angeles to Edwin Joseph Ferrall and Emma (Sedler) Ferrall. He graduated from Mount Carmel High School and attended Los Angeles City College before being drafted. After serving his country in the U.S. Army for two years, Ed attended the University of Southern California, where he earned a business degree with a transportation specialization. Ed secured a job with Kaiser Steel and was working in the transportation department when he married the lovely Sara Sophia Freese – who he first met when they were both working at the main branch of the Los Angeles County Library in downtown Los Angeles – on Oct. 26, 1957. They had four children, Victoria, Edwin, Thomas and Jennifer. Ed spent five years at Kaiser Steel before changing career paths and becoming an insurance sales agent for Pacific Mutual, a company he represented for more than 20 years. While working for Pacific Mutual in 1967, he was transferred to Fresno, where he would spend the rest of his life thoroughly enjoying the hot summer days. A Certified Life Underwriter (CLU), Ed operated his own business as an insurance consultant after his long tenure with Pacific Mutual. Ed loved sports and fervently rooted on his USC Trojans every football season. He also loved music, ballet, art and the opera. He was a huge fan of the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company and its staging of Gilbert and Sullivan operas, which he attended both in London and the U.S. Ed always enjoyed traveling and each year made it a point to take the family on fun-filled driving vacations to interesting places in the U.S. Upon retirement, Ed and Sara frequently traveled to Europe, and although Ed’s favorite by far was London, he also enjoyed visits to Paris and Prague. Ed also loved to visit his cousin and lifelong friend, Donald Ferrall, whose frequent moves to interesting cities provided Ed with more fun places to explore in the U.S. Ed was a parishioner of St. Therese Catholic Church and spent time as a member of both the Serra Club and the Catholic Professional and Business Club of Fresno. He also served as a board member of Sierra Chamber Opera, and volunteered to help with fundraisers for his favorite radio station, KVPR (Valley Public Radio). Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Emma and Edwin. He is survived by his wife, Sara; daughter Victoria Tarvin; son Edwin Ferrall and Berna Ferrall; son Thomas Ferrall and Penny Alcorn; daughter Jennifer Schwabe and David Schwabe; cousin Donald Ferrall; eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren. The family would like to thank the staff at Select Home Care and Somerford Place for making Ed's life more comfortable the last two years. Services will be held Monday, March 27, at St. Therese Catholic Church, with a viewing at 10:00 a.m. and funeral mass at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in Ed’s honor to the Serra Club of Fresno, the Shrine of St. Therese Catholic Church or to the donor’s favorite charity.

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Edwin William Ferrall

August 16, 1932 - March 21, 2017