Robert John Ferrence, age 75 years, of Raritan Township, NJ, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, surrounded by his loving family.
Bob’s life can be summed up as a man of family and faith. He was a loving husband to Carolyn, a devoted father to Michelle, Kimberly, Dana and an incredible grandfather to Emma, Nicolas, Savannah, Clif, Anthony, Scarlett, and Robert Henry. His biggest smile and loudest laughs were when he was spending time with his grandkids.
Upon high school graduation, Bob proudly served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Forrestal, achieving the rank of Second-Class Petty Officer. Following his service to our country, he worked at Simmons Bedding Company and General Motors as a Tool and Die Maker. Next, he spent thirty years as a maintenance mechanic and maintenance supervisor at Anheuser Busch in Newark, NJ. In 2009, Bob retired to enjoy his hobbies, the Coffee Shop, and waves of Myrtle Beach. In 2011, Bob earned his college degree from Felician University, not because he needed to, but because it was always a goal of his.
He was an usher and a Fourth-Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus at Saint Magdalen’s Church in Flemington. He was also a member of the Elks, the American Legion, the United Auto Workers, and the Teamsters.
Bob had a love for woodworking, tools, machinery, grilling, cooking, and the Navy. If anything needed to be fixed, repaired, adjusted or tinkered with, Bob knew the “right way to do it”. He had tools for EVERY job, and even tools for jobs we all knew he wouldn’t get around to doing. In fact, they can still be found in the basement gathering dust. Being prepared and overthinking everything was Bob and a part of why we loved him. There’s a carpentry saying that we heard Bob mention plenty over the years, “Measure twice, cut once”. He preferred everything in his life to be precise and measured. Change was often a foreign concept to him, but loving his family was always a steadfast constant.
Bob was known as Dad, Grandpa Bob, or Commander, but if you really knew him…Bob was BOB. He will be truly missed but his light with continue to shine.
Surviving are his cherished wife, Carolyn Kubiak Ferrence; his daughters and sons-in-law, Michelle Ferrence Vallone and Dennis Vallone, Kimberly and Clif Walden, and Dana and Phil Klevze; his grandchildren, Emma, Nicolas, Savannah, Clif, Anthony, Scarlett, and Robert Henry; his brother and sister-in-law, John Ferrence, Jr. and Marlene Ferrence; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Gregory and Rose Kubiak; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family; his canine companion, Montana, as well as several grand-dogs who Bob adored; and many dear friends.
Family and friends will gather on Saturday, November 2, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.
A Vigil Service will take place at the gathering beginning at 6:30 p.m., and to which all are welcome.
A Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Rev. James De Fillippis will take place on Monday, November 4, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Magdalen Church, 105 Mine Street, Flemington, NJ. Everyone is kindly requested to meet directly at the church on Monday morning beginning at 9:45 a.m. and to follow the instructions of the Wright & Ford Care Team Family Ambassadors upon arrival.
Interment will follow in the family plot at St. Gertrude’s Cemetery, 53 Inman Avenue, Colonia, NJ, and again, all are welcome.
You are encouraged to visit Robert’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.
For those who wish, contributions in his honor and memory may be made to Disabled American Veterans, via mail to P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301, or online by clicking HERE, or to Hunterdon Hospice, via the Hunterdon Health Foundation, 2100 Wescott Drive, Flemington, NJ 08822 or online by clicking HERE.
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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”
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