Obituary of R. Ferris Randall

R. Ferris Randall

It is with great sadness that we share the loss of a true legend. Our community, our family, and countless friends mourn the passing of a remarkable man whose warmth, strength, and unwavering spirit made the world a better place. 

R. Ferris Randall, age 98, of Eden, New York died Friday, November 14, 2025. Ferris was the beloved husband of Connie Newton (nee: Miller) and the late Ellen Randall (nee: Roberts). Dearest father of Stephen (Diana) Randall, Catherine (Michael) Nedimyer, Elizabeth (Jeffrey) Caston and the late Deborah. Loved “Pop” of Anne, John, Laura, Stephen, Greg, Andrew, Caleb, Hannah, Michael, Em, Joel, Graham, and Collin. Great Grandfather of 14. Ferris was the stepfather to his bride Connie’s children, William (Diane) Newton and Jayne (James) Walker.

Robert Ferris Randall was born April 15, 1927 in Gowanda, NY. He was the son of Robert Bentley Randall and Ruth Labell Abbey Randall. He moved to 2823 Maple Ave., Eden when he was 3 years old. Ferris attended the old Eden Grade Schools and graduated in 1944 from Eden High School. He joined the Navy in January 1945, trained at Sampson Naval Base, Geneva, NY and transferred to Naval Air Base Corpus Christi, TX in April 1945. He was stationed at Auxiliary Naval Air Base, Cabiness Field in charge of the Personnel Office. Upon completion of WW2, Ferris reenlisted for 4 years in September of 1945 and transferred to Naval Air Base, San Diego, California, attached to The Staff of Carrier Air Group Five (Valley Forge Aircraft Carrier CV45). He was discharged in September 1949 and joined his Grandfather F. N. Randall in the insurance business located in the theatre building on Buffalo Street in Hamburg, NY. 

On August 6, 1950 Ferris married Ellen Ruth Roberts of Hamburg, making their home on Maple Avenue, Eden, NY. They were parents of the late Deborah Anne (Gasper), Stephen Ferris, Catherine Ruth (Nedimeyer) and Elizabeth Ellen (Caston). 

In 1953 Ferris and his grandfather opened an insurance office in Eden. He also began Real Estate and moved the business to his home at 2816 Roswell Pkwy., in Eden. While there, Donald Spencer joined his Trotters Firm as a Real Estate Salesman, and later became a partner. In 1962 they purchased the Eden Marine Trust Company Building and made that their headquarters.

Ferris was one of the founders of the Eden Historical Society, and was Town of Eden Historian for a number of years. He was the Assessor for the towns of Eden, Portville, and Perrysburg. He was a 35 year member of the Eden Fire Dept., Life Member of The Bog Trotters Rifle and Pistol Club of Eden, Trustee of Cooperative Insurance Co. of WNY and Life Member of the American Legion Post 880, Eden for 75 years. He enjoyed the hobbies of fishing with his life Ellen, target shooting and studying Family History. As an amateur Genealogist he compiled and printed 20 family histories. Ferris is the author of “Ancestors and Descendants Of Snow Randall The Quaker 1609-1973”, published in 1973.

His wife, Ellen Roberts passed away following a lengthy illness in the Absolute Care Nursing Home in Eden. On April 27th, 2020 during the Covid Pandemic, he married Connie Newton and moved to 2967 Schoolview Rd., Eden. 

Family will receive friends and family on Monday, November 17, 2025 from 11:00AM-4:00PM and 6:00PM-9:00PM at the Laing Funeral Home Inc., 2724 W. Church St., Eden. A funeral service will be held at the Eden United Methodist Church on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at 10:00AM. All are welcome. Flowers grateful declined. Donations can be made to the Eden Historical Society or the Welch Farm Museum.