Francis William "Frank" Doerfler, Sr. Obituary (1929 - 2021)

Frank William Doerfler Sr. Frank W. Doerfler The Senior, a proud American, passed away at his home in Lake Havasu City, Arizona on Saturday the 15th of May 2021, at the age of 91 surrounded by his loving family. Born in Okeene, OK on November 7, 1929, he was the seventh of ten children born to Frank and Clara (Gruber) Doerfler. Seven of his siblings preceded him in passing from this life. He is survived by his brothers, Anthony and Walter (Barbara). He lost his precious love of 59 years, Marjorie Jean, in May of 2010 from which he found it difficult to recover from. The loneliness he felt was apparent to his family. Frank is survived by his four children: Stephen (Jean), Lisa (Dalton), Frank Jr. (Lori) and Larry (Sandy). His five grandchildren in whom he took great pride are Alissa, Brandon, Travis, Ethan, and Lillian along with two great grandchildren, Nathan and Levi. Frank and Jean actively worked together to instill the values of hard work, personal responsibility, community support and the love of family in their children. He graduated from Price Memorial High School in Amarillo, TX in 1947. He worked for his Father in the family business in San Antonio and in his spare time took flying lessons until he received his Private Pilot License in 1948 and bought his first of several airplanes. He joined the Air Force in 1950 upon the start of the Korean War and after serving seven years in the Air Force Reserve, he was Honorably Discharged. Frank graduated from St. Mary's University of Texas in San Antonio with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics, with a Minor in Mathematics. He joined Hughes Aircraft Company in 1960 and held positions ranging from F-106 Com/Nav Systems Engineer to Phoenix Missile Program Business Manager to F-18 Program Business Operations Manager. He retired in 1986 after 26 years with Hughes. Frank joined his son Frank Jr. in a start-up business, Measurement Systems Engineering. The company quickly branched into areas of environmental engineering and hazardous materials management and incorporated as MSE Environmental, Inc. MSE grew into a national leader in hazardous materials management and is now a part of Clean Harbors, the largest Hazardous Waste Management company in North America. Frank and Jean traveled extensively in their motorcoach covering 48 states, Canada and Alaska sometimes being gone from home months at a time. He also enjoyed his work with the Commemorative Air Force and the attendant history of WWII aviation. He joined the CAF in 1989 and often traveled to Sacramento to lobby the California Legislature for recognition of the CAF in its efforts to remember WWII aviation history. In 2007 he received the prestigious 'Silver Magnolia Blossom Award' from CAF HQ in Midland, Texas for his service to the CAF and in 2009, received The Certificate of Recognition as 'Veteran of The Year' from the California Assembly in Sacramento. A private service and internment will be at Riverside National Cemetery on June 23, 2021. Please send donations to Hospice of Havasu in lieu of flowers. Services were entrusted to the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Thoughts and condolences can be sent to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com. To send a free card go to www.sendoutcards.com/lietzfraze.