Dr. Arthur Fenderson

Dr. Arthur Fenderson Dr. Arthur Darvin Fenderson, beloved husband and father, passed away on Tuesday, April 5, 2016. Born in Kansas in March of 1923, he traveled to California as an infant with his family to escape the dust bowl. He grew up in the Central Valley of California. During World War II, Art honorably served his cherished country in the Navy medical corps spending his final year in the service in the Aleutian Islands. He remained a strong supporter of our military and veterans throughout his life. After graduating from the University of California Dental School in San Francisco, he established his dental practice in Bakersfield, California. He maintained his successful practice there from 1953 until 1971, when the heat of the Central Valley made the lure of the coast too great to resist and he and his beloved wife of 63 years, Mary Lee, moved to Cayucos. In 1972 they together established their office in Morro Bay where he served his patients until his retirement in 1982. Art loved his profession and continued to follow its progress even after his retirement. One of his other passions was the Rotary Club, having served as President and on many committees. He received recognition repeatedly as the designated humorist of the group, always having a new joke to share each week at the meeting. He was much beloved by the organization for his attitude and for exemplifying the values of Rotary. Known for his natty dressing, he and Mary frequently opened their home for parties, endearing the couple to all members and spouses of the club. In his younger years, Art enjoyed golfing, but when the doctor told him to give that up, he chose to walk daily with his wife. Art and Mary also greatly enjoyed belonging to several dance clubs, both in Bakersfield and San Luis Obispo. Art was also an artist and a craftsman. He was Mr. Fix-it around the house and office, and often took on large construction projects at home, even building a sports car! He was an interior decorator with pizzazz. He was equally as creative with fabric, designing and tailoring beautiful "Fashions by Darvin," made exclusively for his beautiful wife, Mary Lee. He is survived by his much adored and adoring wife, Mary Lee; son, Adrian Fenderson (Jean); daughters Adelle Cregan (Harold "Butch") and Annette Shepherd (Ron); grandchildren, Tiffany Johnson and Adam Fenderson, two great-grandchildren; his brother, Roger Fenderson (Beverly), many nieces and nephews and his many friends. A Service to commemorate his life and service to the community will be held at the club house of the Morro Bay Golf Club on Saturday, April 16, at 2:00pm. All are welcome to come and share their memories of this leader who will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Art's honor to the Rotary Club of Morro Bay Foundation, attention Chuck Clark (phone 805 545-8456) P.O. Box 806, Morro Bay, California, 93443, or to the donor's choice of a veteran-supportive charity. Sign his guestbook at sanluisobispo.com/obituaries