Perry excelled in aviation. He was an expert aviator, in that he flew World War I vintage aircraft to present modern-day aircraft of all various makes, types, and sizes. He was an accomplished navigator. He held B.S. degrees in Aeronautics, Navigation, Instruments, Meteorology, and Flight Instruction. He rebuilt and restored antique aircraft. He was an accomplished musician of many musical instruments. He enjoyed gardening, dancing, music, jogging, woodworking, academics, astronomy, physics, and watching W. C. Fields’ movies. He loved making airplane parts, gluing family furniture, flying his airplanes, performing aerobatics early in the morning, and sitting in front of his hangar with his friends. He never stopped learning. He never stopped fixing and making things. He was always willing to give advice, teach and instruct, help family and friends, and listen to a good joke. He adopted stray cats, fed blue jays bread from his fingers, fed all the neighborhood raccoons cat food, and flew his twin engine Apache to Bullhead City to gamble.Perry was married to his lifetime companion, Joyce A. Schreffler. Their union produced four children and lasted 58 years. Joyce preceded him in death six months ago, and his eldest son, Perry A. Schreffler Jr. preceded him in death in 1981. Perry will be missed deeply by his children, Sherry L. Schreffler, Jerry A. Schreffler, and Kerry J. Schreffler; his grandchildren, Todd, Gemini, Amber, Jay, Silver, and Sterling; great-grandchildren, Timmothy, James, Joshua, Jacob, Jacob, Joseph, Breidon, and Chesney; and his nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.Visitation will be held Saturday, August 24 from 2 until 6 p.m. at Pierce Brothers Stetler Mortuary, Santa Paula. Santa Paula Airport Memorial Services are pending at a later date to be announced. Military burial interment will be private at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.In lieu of flowers, friends may send donations in Perry’s name to The United State Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado.Arrangements are under the direction of Pierce Brothers Stetler Mortuary, Santa Paula, 525-5595.
Obituary
August 28, 2002
Obituaries
Lt. Co. Perry
A. SchrefflerU.S.A.F. Ret., Capt. TWAPerry A. Schreffler, age 79, was born March 7, 1923 in Watseka, Illinois. He passed away August 18, 2002 in Oxnard.Beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend, Perry passed away peacefully after a brief illness. He resided in Santa Paula for 34 years and previously lived in the Los Angles area following World War II.Perry graduated from Watseka High School. When he was 18, he began flying airplanes, then he soon joined the U.S. Army Infantry. Shortly after joining the infantry he attended Air Cadet School, and he became a commissioned 2nd Lt. in 1943 in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He served as a B-17 command bomber pilot in World War II, then flew two tours in the Berlin Airlift. After World War II he was chief pilot for M.A.T.S. in the U.S.A.F. while stationed at Westover Field, Maryland, and Hamilton Air Force Base, Bermuda. When not on active duty in the Air Force Reserves, he ferried World War II aircraft all over the U.S. He retired from the U.S.A.F. in 1962 as a Lt. Col. after 17,000 hours flying time with the Air Force. He was a true patriot of the United States of America, with an American flag always flying.Perry was hired as a pilot on TWA in 1952, flying DC-2s and DC-3s. While flying as a captain for TWA he was a flight safety officer for the FAA, and a check captain for TWA. When he retired from TWA he had completed 33 years of service after flying C-54s, Constellations, Boeing 707s, and Lockheed 10-11 Tristars. He was a well-known aviator around the world and at Santa Paula Airport. Everyone at Santa Paula Airport called him “Orville.” He was a very diverse pilot, having flown over 239 types of aircraft.
