Dorothy Favinger Obituary

September 19, 1922-February 26, 2008. Dorothy Favinger, an eleven year resident of Black Forest, Colorado Springs, Colorado, passed away this week after experiencing months of difficult health circumstances. She and her husband of 64 years, Richard Favinger, came to Colorado Springs after the first fifty-three years of making a life together in Fullerton and Los Angeles, California. Dorothy was born in Chicago, IL to Clifford Starr Osborne and Catherine P. Osborne, with whom she was reunited in her new heavenly home. Also preceding her in death were her older brother, Clifford Osborne and younger sister, Betty Gray. Dorothy is survived by her devoted husband and their five daughters, Cherilee Virgil (Evergreen, CO), Sue Carol Smith (Redmond, OR), Alicia Diene Herrera (Colorado Springs), Jena Lynette Sippach (Anahiem, CA) and Marie Louise Favinger (Agua Dulce, CA). She also will be remembered favorably by her fourteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Dorothy devoted her life to guiding, nurturing and teaching children. In addition to raising their own five daughters, Dorothy served in many capacities to transfer positive values and education to the next generation of children, and grandchildren. For many years she taught Child Evangelism "released time" classes in the public school district where she lived. She spent many years volunteering as a Sunday school teacher. As an adult, Dorothy completed her Bachelor's and Master's degrees at Orange County State College, now known as Cal-State Fullerton University. She received her teaching credential and after a robust quarter century in the Placentia and Orange school districts, she retired. She began teaching gifted and talented students, but soon accepted a promotion to an area of greater need, teaching students with mild to severe learning disabilities. During her tenure she made it her mission to provide a broad base of learning experiences for her students (and her own children) by taking them on many cultural field trips; outdoor experiences, like camping; training students in bowling, horse-back riding and horsemanship, swimming and track to participate in the Special Olympics; and for ten years, both Dorothy and Richard were volunteers and trainers in the American Riding Club for the Handicapped, in Anaheim, California. Another aspect of Dorothy's life which touched the lives of many people through the years was her love for music. Having had musical training as a youth at the Chicago Music Conservatory, she played piano, cello and used her voice to sing. Both she and Richard, were very active throughout their lives in choirs at the First Methodist Church and Eastside Christian Church, both of Fullerton, and later Melodyland Christian Center in Anaheim, and special choirs at Central Christian Church in Colorado Springs. It has been her joy to perform as a soloist, as well as forming and leading youth choirs in the schools where she taught. Dorothy's leadership qualities greatly influenced all whose lives came into contact with hers, in a positive direction. Dorothy's love for horses and children were a natural combination for her entire adult life. Even into retirement she continued to provide children with training and fun experiences with horses and horsemanship. Up until the last year of her life she had spent time sharing her giftedness with so many people, to pass along her love for horses. Dorothy, always the teacher, also spent many years assisting families with home-schooling. The last two students she had in 2007 wrote of her "We love you so much. You were so kind to us and a wonderful teacher." Dorothy had so much to give and share with others as she chose a life of serving God using what He had given her. She was loved by all who knew and spent time with her. Until her last breath she loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and trusted Him through the challenges and blessings of her life, as He promised in Psalm 55 verse 32: "Cast your burden on the Lord and He shall sustain you." A celebration of Dorothy's life will take place at 10:30 a.m., Monday, March 10th at Central Christian Church, located at 2002 W. Pikes Peak Avenue in Colorado Springs. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Dorothy's name to the cause or charity of your choice which honors life, promotes the arts, animal rescue and sheltering, or educational programs. These represent the passions and concerns of Dorothy's long life.