Daniel “Dan” Wilson Ferguson, a beloved family man, community servant, minister of music, and entrepreneur of Kenova, West Virginia, went to be with his Lord and Savior on August 14, 2026, following a brief illness.
Dan was the only child of the late Tolbert B. Ferguson and Blanche B. Frazier Ferguson of Wayne, West Virginia. He learned the value of hard work at an early age, first helping at his parents’ vegetable stand and later working during high school for the late Glenn Queen, owner of ABC Food Market and Tradewell Groceries. Dan credited Mr. Queen with teaching him many of the principles that contributed to his own success in business.
Tall and lean, Dan enjoyed playing his favorite sport as a member of the Wayne High School basketball team, traveling with his teammates throughout Wayne County. Music, however, became the defining melody of his life. He began taking piano lessons at home at age nine and soon dreamed of owning a music business. His parents, a Norfolk & Western Railway carpenter foreman and a schoolteacher, saved every penny they could to help him pursue that dream. Dan also continued working at the family vegetable stand to save for his education, determined to earn a music degree from West Virginia University in Morgantown.
At WVU, Dan joined Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and participated in many activities, including directing the annual Mother’s Day Sing. He also enjoyed watching basketball greats Jerry West and “Hot Rod” Hundley take the court. Dan credited his years in the fraternity house with teaching him valuable life lessons, and he formed many treasured friendships there. His ties to the university and its music program continued throughout his life, including service as president of the WVU School of Music Alumni Association.
During his sophomore year, Dan met the love of his life, Alice Lee Taylor of Matewan, West Virginia. After graduating, they married in 1959 and settled in Kenova, where Dan accepted a position as Minister of Music at First Baptist Church of Kenova.
At First Baptist, Dan formed the New Generation Choir, a group of approximately 250 singers. With a vision ahead of its time, he incorporated contemporary sounds into Christian music, blending elements of rock and roll with traditional worship during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Under his direction, the choir traveled across the country, performed in numerous churches and military bases, and even recorded an album in Nashville.
While serving the church during the week, Dan spent evenings and weekends selling band instruments and other musical products. That work grew into Dan Ferguson Music, which he opened in 1959. For more than 50 years, he supplied pianos, organs, and other instruments to families, churches, and schools throughout Appalachia and beyond. True to his hands-on nature, Dan normally made the deliveries himself, with help from others. Through his ministry and his business, he helped place music in countless homes, classrooms, and sanctuaries.
Dan’s commitment to the Ceredo-Kenova community extended well beyond his business. He served as president of the Ceredo-Kenova Rotary Club, the Ceredo-Kenova Chamber of Commerce, and the Ceredo-Kenova Businessmen’s Association. Dan embraced each leadership role, driven by his love for the community and his desire to see it flourish.
Dan also provided steady leadership to the region’s banking community. He served on the Board of Directors of First National Bank of Ceredo and later became president of Ceredo Bank. During his tenure, United Bank acquired Ceredo Bank, and Dan was highly involved in the acquisition. Dan then served on United Bank’s Board of Directors for decades.
To the broader community, he was the “Music Man.” To his many friends, he was “Dan the Man.” To his family, he was a faithful and devoted husband and a loving, kind, selfless, and servant-hearted father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, affectionately known as “Pops” or “Poppa.”
Dan had a special gift for making each person he met feel seen, known, and valued. If you knew him for long, he likely had an affectionate nickname for you. His family was grateful to gather with him to celebrate his 90th birthday on July 21, 2026.
Dan’s life and legacy are celebrated by his three daughters, Lee Anne Gillispie (Kevin), Mary Glenn Rice, and Malinda Johnson (Tom); four grandchildren, Lee Stonestreet (Andrew), Taylor Hiestand, Haidyn Johnson, and Cooper Daniel Johnson; two great-grandsons, Beckett Stonestreet and Benjamin Stonestreet; his brother-in-law, Bill Walter; his sister-in-law, Caroline Taylor; and many nieces and nephews.
Music filled Dan’s life, and his love for his family, friends, and community ran deep. Yet the central refrain of his life was his devotion to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Dan embodied the familiar words, “Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words.” Through a life of faithful service, he leaves an enduring and eternal impact on his family and countless others.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Kenova’s Music Ministry in Dan’s honor. The visitation will be held at First Baptist Church of Kenova on Friday, August 21, 2026, from 4-6 pm with a Celebration of Life Service to directly follow. Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova is honored to serve the Ferguson family. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rollinsfh.com