Erwin S. Ferris, a resident of Pacific Palisades since 1953 and a retired airline pilot, died on December 13. He was 91. Born on May 23, 1918, in Mason City, Iowa, Erwin began building dams and bridges with the Civil Conservation Corps following high school. He graduated from the Officer Training Corps in the U.S. Army Air Force in 1942 and was an instructor until 1945. After the war, he was a captain for Trans World Airlines from 1946 to 1978, when he retired. Erwin married Joyce Costello, a native of Chicago, on March 31, 1951, and they moved to a home in the Huntington Palisades two years later. He was active at Corpus Christi Catholic Church and American Legion Post 283, while helping Joyce raise their six children. Erwin’s hobbies and passions included flying, golf, tennis, racquetball, the Lakers and his 1968 Mustang, but family always came first. He and Joyce loved watching the town’s Fourth of July parade at the corner of Drummond and Toyopa, and then hosting a Great American Party for 40 years. In addition to Joyce, his wife of 58 years, Erwin is survived by his six children: Mary Elina Ferris, M.D. of Santa Barbara, Kathleen Thode-Ferris (husband Jerry) of Villa Park, Barbara O’Neill-Ferris (husband Steven) of Malibu, Janet (‘Mona’) Ferris of Glacier Park, Montana, Tim Ferris of Santa Monica, and Diane Weiler (husband Thornton) of Alameda; and eight grandchildren: Christopher and Andrew Thode; Blaine, Riley and Ellie O’Neill; Charlie Weiler; and Preston and Sabina Roan. A funeral Mass celebrating Erwin’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on December 21 at Corpus Christi Church, corner of Carey and Sunset. Donations may be made to the Blind Children’s Center of Los Angeles, or St. Andrews Abbey in Valyermo, California.
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