Sondra Mueller Ferstl died July 5, 2012 in Denton Regional Medical Center. She was born Sondra Rody Mueller on November 15, 1937 in Lafayette, Indiana to George V. Mueller and Vera Rody Mueller. She married Kenneth L. Ferstl on August 10, 1968 in Madison, Wisconsin.
Sondra Ferstl received three academic degrees, all in French language and literature: the B.A. in French and history in 1958 from Indiana University – Bloomington; the M.A. from Middlebury College in 1959 through their graduate degree program, the School of French in France (Paris); and the Ph.D. in French in 1969 from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Her dissertation was on the dramatic aesthetics of the 20th century French poet, playwright, and diplomat Paul Claudel.
During the first part of her academic career, Dr. Ferstl taught French at University of North Texas and Ripon College (Wisconsin). When she and Ken returned to Denton a year after their marriage, Sondra worked part-time as secretary at Immaculate Conception Church while Ken taught in the School of Library and Information Science at University of North Texas. From 1972-1975 while residing in Bloomington, Indiana where Ken completed his doctoral studies, Sondra served as secretary to the chair of the Department of French and Italian. Upon their return to Denton Sondra joined the staff of the Graduate School at University of North Texas, first as secretary to the Associate Dean of the Graduate School and later as research administrative assistant in the Office of Research & Academic Grants.
From 1981 until her retirement in 2003, Sondra Ferstl was a university research administrator, first at University of North Texas where she was named research administrative assistant. From 1988 until her retirement in 2003 she served Texas Woman's University as Associate Dean for Research. In this position she had chief responsibility for the office handling proposal submission for the University and helping the faculty obtain funding for their research. She was a member of two professional organizations, the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) and the Society of Research Administrators (SRA). She received the Outstanding Research Administrator in Region V award from NCURA in 2002.
In the Denton community Dr. Ferstl was best known for her leadership roles in the League of Women Voters. She served four times as president of the local Denton League. She was also a member of the state board of directors of the League of Women Voters of Texas for eight years, including four years as Vice President for Organization. During her work with the state organization Ferstl trained the boards of many of the local Leagues in the state of Texas.
She was a member of Immaculate Conception Church. Memorials may be made to the League of Women Voters of Texas, 1212 Guadalupe Street #107, Austin, Texas 78701 or the League of Women Voters of Denton, P.O. Box 424945 TWU Station, Denton, Texas 76204.
A Memorial service will be held at 2 P.M. Monday, July 9, 2012 in the Chapel of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. There will be a visitation at the Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home, 705 N. Locust , Denton on Sunday July 8, 2012 from 2 P.M. until 4 P.M.