Shirley Starr Fielder

Shirley Starr Fielder, age 79, a resident of Carlsbad, California, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 15, 2007 from Alzheimer's disease. Shirley was born to John and Mabel Starr in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota on September 24, 1927. She married Robert H. Fielder, USMC, Ret. on June 12, 1948. Shirley graduated from San Diego State University obtaining her BA in Education and went on to obtain her Masters Degree years later from USIU. Shirley taught Kindergarten at Naranca Elementary School for many years. The joy of teaching young Kindergarten students was evident; she touched the lives of several families through her long teaching career in El Cajon. Shirley retired from the Cajon Valley School district in 1995 after 30 years of teaching.The family has fond memories of many trips to Minnesota and to their vacation home in Baja. Shirley especially relished her annual visits to her dearly loved state of Minnesota to be with family, nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. Shirley and Bob moved to Carlsbad in 1999 and enjoyed the life of a retired couple. Travel to and time spent in Big Bear and Palm Springs as well as high school and college reunions in Minnesota filled their calendar. A trek in 2000 to visit Shirley's ancestral home Stjerneplas ("Starr Place") north of Steinkjer, Norway was one of the highlights in her life. Shirley and Bob are members of Calvary Lutheran Church in Solana Beach, CA.Shirley is survived by her husband Robert; their three children: Deborah Starr Loughran (Michael) of Vista, CA, Lindsay Starr Donaldson of Edmonds, WA and Mark R. Fielder (Carol) of Burbank, CA; and her seven grandchildren: Jason, Andrew, Connor, Sydney, Melanie, Erica and Sabrina. She was very proud that her two daughters as well as all four of her granddaughters carry her maiden name Starr as their middle name. Her sister Lucille Starr Tunheim of Pelican Rapids, MN, also survives her.A memorial service celebrating her life is scheduled on September 28, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church, 424 Via de la Valle, Solana Beach, CA. Internment will be held at a later date in the family plot at Pelican Valley Cemetery, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. Minnesota.