Shirley V. Pufahl's Obituary
Shirley Virginia (nee Rorabaugh) Pufahl was born on September 19, 1922, and passed into eternal life on August 24, 2022, just three weeks short of her 100th birthday. Shirley was the only child of James E. Rorabaugh and Virginia M. Rorabaugh. Born September 19, 1922, in Washington D.C., she was married to Erhard R. Pufahl on September 16, 1942, after having met at church function earlier that year. They remained married for 49 years until Erhard’s death in 1991.
Early in WWII, Erhard was stationed at Drew Field in Tampa, Florida where they lived in military housing and began their married life. Erhard served in the United States Army Air Forces as a Captain in the Signal Corp. As such he was responsible for operating USAAF aircraft control towers. He later was stationed in the European Theater of Operations. During his deployment Shirley moved back to her parents’ home in New Jersey.
Shirley was a lifelong practicing Lutheran with roots in German traditions and was an active member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Stafford Springs, CT.
She was a stay-at-home mom while she raised their four children during the early 40’s into the 60’s. When the children were grown, she worked as the Director of Food Service for Stafford Public Schools for 10 years.
Shirley attended Stafford Grammar School for two years and ultimately graduated from Union Hill High School in Union City, New Jersey.
Her approach to raising four active children included sandboxes, tree forts, swings, and birthday parties. Summer vacations always involved long trips in the family station wagon and included camping along the way. Destinations as far as Idaho and Florida were not uncommon as were many other road trips to sites closer to home as well.
Bridge was an integral part of most of her adult life, playing whenever the opportunity presented itself. She was also active in the Stafford Republican party.
Shirley is survived by the children she loved: Virginia Goetz of Stafford Springs, CT: Lyle and Ilona Pufahl of Naples, FL; Raymond and Donna Pufahl of Stafford Springs, CT; and Georgia and William Nichols of Wenham, MA. Additionally, Shirley is survived by nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 from 12 P.M. to 1 P.M., with a funeral service beginning at 1 P.M. at Introvigne Funeral Home, Inc., 51 East Main St., Stafford Springs, CT. Burial will follow the service at Stafford Springs Cemetery.
Donations in memory of Shirley may be made to the Sarcoma Foundation of America, P.O. Box 98160, Washington, DC 20090-8160. To leave a message of sympathy for her family, or for directions, please visit: www.introvignefuneralhome.com
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