Rosa E. (Brandt) Deffner

February 23, 1914 – February 25, 2001

Rosa E. Deffner, longtime resident of Ponca City, died Sunday evening, Feb. 25, 2001, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was 87.

The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2001, at the First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Tom Ramsey presiding. Burial will be at Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Rosa E. Deffner was born Feb. 23, 1914, in Covington, the daughter of John Brandt and Amelia (Metscher) Brandt. She graduated from Perry High School in 1933 and then from Ponca City Beauty School in 1937. She was married to Hal C. Deffner on April 25, 1940, in Blackwell, with the couple making their first home in California. The couple moved to Ponca City in 1945. She was a member of the First Lutheran Church, the First Lutheran Women’s Guild and the Lutheran Womens Missionary League. Her enjoyments included her family, knitting, crocheting and ceramics.

She is survived by her husband, Hal, of the home; one son, David Deffner and wife, Keiko, of Corsicana, Texas; one daughter, Sharon Gibbons and husband, Michael, of Dallas, Texas; one sister, Matilda Edwards of Ponca City; three grandsons, Chris Gibbons and wife Karen, Brian Gibbons and Jason Gibbons, all of Dallas; one great-granddaughter, Taylor Gibbons; one sister-in-law, Ruth Meier of Tacoma, Wash.; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her grandparents who raised her, John and Meta Katherine Metscher; her parents; two brothers-in-law, Lee Edwards and Dr. Herb Meier.

Casket bearers will be Chris Gibbons, Brian Gibbons, Jason Gibbons, Gary Heintz, Steve Vaughan and Elmer Kelle. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Lutheran Church, Radio Fund, 1101 North 4th Street, Ponca City, Okla. 74601.