Obituary of Shirley DERFLER

Shirley Ann Derfler (April 7, 1931 - June 18, 2010)Shirley Ann Derfler, "Ann", 79, passed away on June 18, 2010 after a long battle with MSA.Ann is survived by her brother, Roger Fike; her three children Deborah Webb of New Florence, MO., Cheri Lopez (husband, Manuel) of San Antonio, TX and Dean Derfler (wife, Robin) of Lake Havasu City, AZ. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Heather, Joshua, Jonathon, and Alexander and her great-grandchildren, Jonathan, Levi and Gavin.Ann graduated from Ashland High School in Ashland, Ohio in 1949 and was a member of the National Honor Society. The following year she married Marvin Eugene Derfler on July 3Oth. They moved across country with several stops including New Mexico, Santa Rosa, California and then eventually settling in Fullerton in the mid 1960s. There, they raised 3 children who all graduated from Sunny Hills High School.Ann was in the initial class of the Fullerton, R.S.V.P's at the Fullerton Police Department. From 1994 to 2006, she volunteered countless hours to the Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol group. She was so excited and proud to be chosen as part of this team. She served in numerous areas including vacation checks, various desk duties and park clean up. She enjoyed the camaraderie and numerous classes and events the R.S.V.P. group was involved with. This volunteer work was her pride and joy and she spoke of it endlessly.Ann was Martha Stewart before Martha was around. She sewed, knitted, crocheted, painted, decorated, made stained glass and was an all around craftsperson. Ann was the consummate joke teller and costume person. If there was a new joke to tell, she knew it. If there was an old joke to tell, she told it again. And of course everyone who knew her was aware that if there was a costume party to go to, she would be there in full gear. Halloween was her favorite holiday. There are many a strange photo floating around with Ann in a Madonna costume, biker attire or her favorite, Dolly Parton costume: hot pink polyester, white boots and a giant blonde wig with ringlets and way too much hairspray. You knew Ann had arrived.Ann also was an antique aficionado. She also had taken and then taught stained glass classes and antiques classes for adult education. She designed and made numerous beautiful stained glass pieces for her home and family and even sold some smaller pieces.She was also an artist with copious amounts of mediums in her repertoire. Oil, pastels, charcoal, acrylics, she mastered them all. Antique collecting drew her to any type of estate sale or auction where she would find and collect Rockwood, and artwork with her husband.In 2008 Ann's medical condition forced a move from her beloved Fullerton home of over 40 years. She moved to Lake Havasu City, Arizona with her son and family who took care of her until her passing. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the R.S.V.P. group in care of the Fullerton Police Department, 237 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, California 92832. Contact, Community Services Officer Juanita Juarez at the Fullerton Police Department at 714-738-6836.Thoughts and condolences may be submitted to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.comArrangements were entrusted to Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home & Crematory.