BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Edward Arthur Swertfager was born June 2, 1922 to John Frederick Swertfager and Eva Frink Swertfager in Norwich and passed away peacefully on Aug. 9, 2011 at his home in Bakersfield, Calif. surrounded by his family.
“Good Ol’ Ed” was preceded in death by Shirliann, his wife of 57 years, in 2001, his parents and six siblings. He will be sorely missed by his brother, Leland Swertfager of Norwich; his sister, Mary Genung of Oxford; and his 10 children and their spouses: Jack and Kelly Swertfager, Jean and Joe Kulbeth, and Anne Marie Richards, all of Fresno, Calif.; Bill Swertfager of Claremont, Calif.; Tom and Susan Swertfager of Bakersfield; Keith and Sherry Swertfager and Julie and David Harmon of Clovis, Calif., Lea and Richard Riggs of Bakersfield; Katie Sullivan of Fresno; and Betty Gail and Leonard Zasoski of Bakersfield. Ed was the proud Grandpa to 27 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
Edward was raised in Norwich. After graduation from Norwich High School, he worked for the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company there before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in September 1941. He met Shirliann Pentzer, who was also in the Navy, while stationed at USNAS Jacksonville, Fla. They were married on Sept. 30, 1944 and moved to Bakersfield upon discharge from the service. Ed spent 41 1/2 years working in the creameries of Bakersfield without missing a single day of work! He was a founding member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish. He was also a proud member of the Kern County Retired Teamsters Association, American Legion Post 26, and ICF Branch #281. Until Shirliann’s death in 2001, Eddie and Shirliann enjoyed their retirement years visiting friends and relatives, traveling to all 50 states, Mexico, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Their favorite vacation spot was Huntington Lake in the High Sierra, which was really a second home for them and their family.
A memorial mass was celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20 at Our Lady of Perpetual help Church, Bakersfield, Calif. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ed’s memory can be made to the Shirliann and Ed Swertfager Memorial Scholarship Fund (SESMSF). Please make checks payable to Our Lady of Perpetual Help School Foundation (SESMSF on the memo line), 124 Columbus St., Bakersfield, Calif. 93305.