James L. “Jim” Ferris, 64, of Endwell, New York, passed away on October 12, 2026, at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia after a nearly six year battle with lung cancer. He faced his illness with the same quiet strength, steadiness, and generosity that defined his life.
Born in Sayre, Pennsylvania, Jim was a 1979 graduate of Sayre High School and earned his electrical engineering degree from Penn State in 1984. He spent his career in defense related industries, retiring from Lockheed Martin in 2021. His work took him around the world — to China, Korea, and the United Kingdom — but he remained deeply rooted in his family and community. Jim was known for his kindness, his calm
presence, and his unwavering decency. He never smoked, never swore, and was the cornerstone of his family.
Jim is survived by his wife, Judy Savage-Ferris, his daughter, Kelly; his son, Heath; his mother, Elaine; his brother, Jason, and Jason’s wife, Jolie; and his uncle Barry Cole and wife Gloria. Jim is also survived by his in-laws, Jan and Bud Horstmeyer, Jodi and Dwight Tausz, Alan and Sandy Savage, and Kevin Savage. He leaves behind extended family, colleagues, and friends who admired his character and cherished his
companionship.
In accordance with his wishes, Jim will be cremated, and services will be private. He asked that memorial contributions be directed to Penn State THON – the largest Student-Run Philanthropy in the World - a cause he deeply believed in and contributed to for many years. The website is THON.org