Arthur S. Ferrell Jr.
Heart and soul of the Sunlight Club
Arthur S. “Spunky” Ferrell Jr., 73, of Bridgeville, formerly of Washington, passed away Sunday, July 7, 2013, in his home, following a courageous two-and-a-half-year battle with cancer.
He was born March 1, 1940, in Washington, a son of the late Arthur S. Ferrell Sr. and the late Alleen Thomas Ferrell.
Mr. Ferrell was a 1957 graduate of Washington High School.
He became the first African-American employee of the A&P on Chestnut Street in Washington. He later became employed as a foreman for G.E. Lighting in Bridgeville, from where he retired.
Mr. Ferrell served in the U.S. Army in Korea, before being honorably discharged from service.
He was a longtime member of the St. Paul AME Church of Washington.
Mr. Ferrell was an avid Penn State and Pittsburgh Steelers football fan. He loved to travel to Penn State bowl games and was a season ticket holder for the Steelers, often making trips to their away games. He was a true family man who loved spending time with all of his family. He enjoyed golf and reading and spent a great deal of time reading his Bible. He was a true man of God, whose faith was rooted in his relationship with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was a true friend to all and he touched and had an impact on the lives of everyone he met.
He was the heart and Soul of the Sunlight Club and the recovery community of Washington. He was a fixture at alcoholics and narcotics anonymous meetings in Washington and the surrounding areas. He loved recovery like no one else and was loved by the recovery community. His life work for many years consisted of helping fellow recovering alcoholics and addicts stay clean and sober, one day at a time. He always had his hand out to say hello to the newcomer and was willing to take the time to listen to people and their problems. He loved recovery and the Sunlight Club and he was so proud of his sobriety, which meant everything to him. One of his famous sayings was, “I’m enjoying another day in paradise.” He loved to always tell people to keep coming back. His faith in Jesus Christ was always strong and became stronger even in his final days on Earth. He left this Earth in the way many recovering alcoholics and addicts dream of – he died a clean and sober man.
On February 25, 1977, he married DeRay “Andi” Finley, who survives.
Also surviving are a son, Arthur Justin (Brigette) Ferrell of Spring, Texas; a daughter, Kyla Scott Ferrell of Centreville, Va.; a brother, Donald Thomas (Josephine) Ferrell of State College; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Walter and Winifred Burgess; four grandchildren, Siavash, Iman, Jazzmin and Noor Ferrell of Spring; an uncle, Archie Thomas; a niece, Doris Lynn Allen; five nephews, Donald Arthur, Darrin William and Derek Baker Ferrell and Walter and Troy Burgess; cousins Leonard G. Mack, Betty Anne Robinson, Raymond Ronald Thomas, Alan Thomas, David Leonard Wilson, Debra Iott and Dickie Thomas; a goddaughter, China Jemison; and several cousins and friends.
Deceased are nephews William “Poo” and Robert “Yogi” Allen.
Friends will be received from noon to 2 p.m., the time of a home going celebration life service, Saturday, July 13, in Warco-Falvo Funeral Home Inc., Wilson at East Katherine Avenues, Washington, S. Timothy Warco, supervisor/director, Susan Falvo Warco, Director, S. Timothy Warco II, director, with the Rev. Arthur E. Doctor Jr. officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Sunlight Club in care of Warco-Falvo Funeral Home Inc., 336 Wilson Avenue, Washington, PA 15301. Condolences may be expressed at www.WarcoFalvoFuneralHome.com.