SHIRLEY RUTH (WASS) FRENCH 1932-2024

Shirley Ruth (Wass) French, a longtime resident of Escondido, CA, passed away while in hospice care on June 10, 2024 at Brookdale Assisted Living in Murrieta, CA. She was 91. Shirley was born on September 20, 1932, to Dorothy (Cowper) and Russell Wass in Detroit, MI. She was raised primarily by her grandparents, Edward and Alma Cowper, in Redford, MI. Shirley’s aunt, Ruth Cowper, only ten years her senior, was her best friend and “big sister” growing up and throughout life. They remained close their entire lives, Ruth always looking out for her.

Shirley graduated from Redford High School in 1951. She married Donald French on August 23, 1952. They were blessed with three children: Joseph, Stephen, and Gail, and lived first in Livonia, and later in Northville, MI. Both Gail and Joe preceded Shirley in death, in 1987 and 1989, respectively. Shirley and Don divorced in 1979.

Shirley and her daughter moved to southern California in 1979 to be near Ruth and her family. She lived in Leucadia, then Oceanside, and then in Escondido. She met Ian MacLachlan, known to his friends as Mac, and they were devoted companions to the end of his life in 2005, traveling across the United States and to England and Scotland as well. Around 2000, Shirley moved to a small condo in the Hidden Meadows area of Escondido, where she spent many happy years with her dachshund, Andy, feeding the birds and causing squirrel infestations because she fed them too.

Shirley was a vital part of the Hidden Meadows community, where virtually all of her neighbors were also her dear friends. Neighbors John Harjung and Cherie and Mark Rogers, especially, looked after her so much that she was able to continue living alone well past the time when she should have been in formal assisted living. Her friends and neighbors assisted her in many ways, and were definitely a blessing to her. She absolutely loved her life there.

In addition to her mothering and housewife roles, as a young woman Shirley also assisted her husband in his optometry practice, with scheduling and billing. In California, she worked at the Bullock’s department store in the Carlsbad Mall. Later, she took a job with the Lawrence Welk Resort in the gift shop, a position she held for 20 years. She finally retired at 80, a retirement age she was quite proud of.

While she was able, Shirley loved cooking and having friends and family to dinner. She also took pleasure in gardening, feeding the birds and local wildlife, and talking to people. She had a smile for everyone. She was rarely down—almost always cheerful and happy to see you. She was an excellent and gracious hostess and usually impeccably turned out in the wardrobe and makeup departments. If you gave her a gift, you would always believe it was exactly what she had always wanted.

Shirley eventually had to move to Brookdale Assisted Living in Murrieta, where she was closer to her family and again, quickly became everyone’s favorite.

Shirley Ruth French now joins her many loved ones who have crossed over before her: her beloved grandmother Alma, “sister” Ruth, daughter Gail, son Joe, friend Mac, and her many adored pets: Susie, Kelly, Sunshine, Molly, Josh, Hansel, Fritzi, and Andy. She is survived by her son, Donald Stephen French, his wife Ellen Dennis French, her grandson Sean French, and her grand-dog, Walter. She will be greatly missed by all. A bright light has blinked out, but we will see the afterimage forever. May her memory be a blessing for all the days of those who knew her.