Shirley Ida Switzer

Shirley Ida Switzer, nee, Martin passed away quietly in her beloved Fullerton home that she shared with her husband Fred for the past 55 years and where they raised their four daughters (Linda, Judy, Shelley and Janet.) She was born Shirley Ida Martin on March 9, 1922 to Shirley W. and Ida E. Martin in Oakland, California! She learned to enjoy living with a large family very young. She lived with her parents, her father’s parents, four siblings and their families for her first ten years during the struggles of the depression era. Shirley graduated from The University of California at Berkeley in 1944 with a B. A. degree in history.  During her college years she met and soon married her best friend and true love, Fred Emmet Switzer.  As a war bride she and Fred moved to New London, Connecticut where Fred was stationed as a lieutenant in the U. S. Navy. After the war Shirley and Fred moved back to Berkeley, California into a duplex apartment next door to Fred’s parents. Fred worked with his father at Switzer’s Pharmacy as a pharmacist.  Shirley soon became a stay at home homemaker and mother to Linda in 1946.  Then in 1949, Judy joined the family. The small duplex apartment Fred’s parents had let them live in soon became too small.  They found a cozy gray bungalow in a nearby suburb of Orinda. After their third daughter, Shelley, was born in 1955 they moved their family to Lyndhurst, Ohio, so Fred could establish a new career working with his two older brothers at Day-Glo Color Corporation in nearby Cleveland, Ohio.  After four fun filled years in Lyndhurst near the Switzer clan, Fred and Shirley decided it was time to move from the east back to balmy California. There, Fred would open and run the west coast division of Day-Glo Color Corporation.  In 1960, Shirley and Fred settled into a brand new home in the town of Fullerton, California.  A year later, the Switzer family welcomed their fourth daughter and last child, Janet. Shirley was a busy homemaker with four daughters of various ages keeping her on her toes.  However, Shirley had never forgotten her fun filled days with the musical Martin family!  Her grandmother had been an accomplished pianist and her grandfather had a beautiful singing voice!  Shirley's love for music led her to join Sweet Adeline’s where she enjoyed several years of singing along with a few close friends. She also joined the Fullerton chapter of A.A.U.W. and joined a bridge group. She and Fred had weekly date nights through the years and would often go out to dinner and dancing. On a few occasions Shirley entered and won Charleston contests. They also enjoyed talking and listening to their favorite music and show tunes for an hour or more every night after Fred came home from work. As her children grew she had a hobby of reading historical novels!  Since she had always liked doing research papers in school she was a natural at solving the daily crossword puzzles.  She approached each one as if it were an assignment!  Later in life with Fred home every day, they both worked Sudoku puzzles daily and often had a fun, competitive daily game of Canasta.  They also enjoyed spending time listening to their favorite old music and watching classic movies. Shirley was also a lifelong fan of I Love Lucy and a proud owner of all the episodes on video! Shirley is survived by her husband of 71 years, Fred Switzer, and their four daughters:  Linda Clopton (Bill), Judy Summers (Larry), Shelley Campbell (Todd) and Janet Sanders (David).  Her eleven grandchildren, Tammy Anderson (Ross), Jeff Summers (Michele), Brandi Wallin (Marc), Michael Summers (Andrea), Jason Clopton (Andrea), Damian Clopton, Brian Campbell, Shirley Wallims (Dan), John Sanders, Laura Campbell and Daniel Sanders!  She also is survived by thirteen great-grandchildren and several nephews and nieces. Her infectious laughter, humor and ongoing tales of family history will be missed by all who love her. Sadly her younger brother, Wiley Robert Martin Senior, preceded her in death, passing away in August of 2014. A private memorial and celebration of life for Shirley will be held at McAulay & Wallace Mortuary in Fullerton.  Another private memorial will be held at Redwood Memorial Gardens in Guerneville, California at a future date.  In Shirley's memory, please contribute to your favorite charity.