Joseph Andrew “Joe” Ference, son of the late Joseph Richard Ference and Marguerite Duquette Ference, died on September 15, 2021. Joe was born December 5, 1941 in West Port, Connecticut and is survived by his wife Sharon Ference, his sons and their families, Brett and Kristine Ference of Vermont and Jamie and Elizabeth Ference and their daughters, Louisa Jones Ference and Noella Leigh Ference of North Carolina. He is also survived by his brother and his wife, Charlie and Lynn Ference of South Carolina, his sisters Peggy Spera of Virginia, and Pat Burns of Massachusetts, and his god daughter, Laurie McGinley and her family of Nevada. He left behind many animals that he loved, his favorite horse Red, his livestock guardian Maggie, and his near constant companion, Izzy.

Joe grew up on a farm where his family raised produce and milked cows and where his love of farming and horses started to evolve. During that era, horsepower on the farm was truly provided by horses. When he was a small child he loved nothing better than getting to sit on the back of one of the draft horses while his dad cultivated the fields of vegetables.

As a young man, Joe served his country as a Navy Seal during the Vietnam Conflict. Although he was granted medals of Honor and earned accommodations for bravery, the only recognition that he sought was to give thanks to those who fought beside and before him and to ask God to protect the young men and women who are serving our country today.

Joe was recognized as an accomplished farrier and knowledgeable horseman. For him, horse shoeing was a profession that he looked forward to each day that presented him with a challenge and a sense of satisfaction with a lifetime of honing his skills and mastering his craft. After 50 years he retired from horse shoeing, but continued to farm and work with animals.

His life took him down many paths, but always brought him back to horses and farming. Joe loved family and friends, horses, dogs, farming, and gardening. He would often say, “If you have faith, family, and friends, you have a lot. Don’t focus on all the material things, remember that is all just stuff. Put your focus on the things that really matter”.

Our family would like to thank UVA Culpeper Hospital and all the staff members for their care and support.

A Funeral Service to celebrate and honor Joe’s life will be held at Preddy Funeral Home in Madison on Monday, September 27th at 11 am. For those unable to attend, a Memory Table and Memory Book will be available at Preddy on Saturday September 25^th from 9 am until noon. Family and friends may also visit the Preddy Funeral Home website and leave a comment on the online guest book.

Our family requests that in lieu of flowers, please send a donation in Joe’s name to his favorite charity:

Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

PO Box 937

Verona, Va. 24482