Warren Sharp Ferguson

Warren Sharp Ferguson passed away on March 4, 2022, just two weeks before his ninety-first birthday.

Warren is going on ahead to build a heavenly mansion for his wife of 68 years, Carolyn Hall Ferguson. They were married on August 24, 1953, in the Salt Lake Temple. The have five children: Brian Earl Ferguson – North Salt Lake, UT; Vicky Lynn (Neal) Perry – Murray, UT; Joan (David) Denson – Bountiful, UT; Jean (Bruce) Vandertoolen – West Bountiful, UT; and James Paul (Marie-Lise) Ferguson – North Salt Lake UT. Warren and Carolyn have 13 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren (so far).

Warren grew up in Brigham City, Utah. He attended Box Elder High school where he played football under Coach Earl Ferguson, his father. He also participated in basketball and track. He played the trombone in the school band and orchestra.

He won a football scholarship to the University of Utah in 1949. He also ran track at the University. His education was interrupted when the National Guard was “called up” to the Army and he was sent to the Korean War as a Sergeant. When he returned, he continued his education in Electrical Engineering.

Warren started dating Carolyn after his return from the Army in June 1952. After their marriage, they lived in the University of Utah married student housing complex known as “Stadium Village.” Brian was born in July of 1954 and was a distraction to his father during his last two years at the University.

After Warren’s graduation with a BS in Electrical Engineering in 1956, he was quickly hired by the Sperry Corporation which was opening a new facility in Utah. Warren was their first new hire. They bought a home in Val Verda, Utah which, at the time, was an unincorporated area between Bountiful and the city of North Salt Lake. They raised their five children in that home which was, and still is, in the Val Verda Third Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In 1961, Warren became a Civil Service Engineer at Hill Air Force Base. He worked on the Bomark (surface to air) missile system and eventually became the engineer in charge of the Maverick (air to ground) missile. The Maverick missile was key to the Israeli victory in the 1973 “Yom Kippur War.”

In addition to his degree from the University of Utah, Warren received advanced education from many schools including the University of Washington, UCLA, USC, and the University of Colorado. He also attended many service schools and company schools.

These educational experiences often provided the opportunity for the family to travel. Disneyland was a frequent destination for the family whenever Dad had to travel to the Los Angeles area for work. He liked to take the entire family whenever he could.

Not every family vacation was related to Warren’s work. There were also family trips to Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, as well as frequent camping at Mirror Lake and other places. Warren taught his children at a young age how to fish. He was always thinking about his children and how to teach, support, and have fun with them.

Warren provided anything his family needed. He continually enlarged and improved the house as his family grew. He provided outdoor play equipment, sports equipment, recreation equipment, musical instruments, dance lessons, piano lessons, and pets. He attended and supported his children’s recitals, plays, games, talks, and swim meets. He helped his children do everything from build a treehouse to work on cars. He was a generous, dependable, caring, and always supportive father. His honesty, kindness, and strength of character will live on in his children.

Funeral services will be held at 11 am, Saturday, March 12, 2022, at the Val Verda Third Ward building, 2651 S 500 W, Bountiful, UT. Viewings will be held at Russon Mortuary, 295 N Main St, Bountiful, UT on Friday, March 11, from 6 to 8 pm, and at the church from 10 to 10:45 am prior to the funeral. Interment will be at the Bountiful City Cemetery.

Condolences and memories may be left under the ‘Guestbook’ tab at the top of this webpage.

The funeral will be broadcast on the Russon Brothers Mortuary Facebook and on this obituary page for those unable to attend in person.