COLUMBUS
Norman D. Norcross, 104 year old, passed away at 11:45 p.m. August 11, 2019, at Hickory Creek
Nursing Home in Columbus. Mr. Norman Norcross was born on December 23, 1914, in McComb, Missouri. He was the son of David and Sally Norcross. Mr. Norcross was never married.
He and his other four siblings were raised during the great depression. Norman’s dad was a walking barber. He received 25? for haircuts and 10? for shaves. Norman, nor any of his siblings, went to school beyond the eighth grade. They had to stay home and help their mother with the younger kids. The kids also tried to get jobs where ever they could to make extra money. Norman said he worked many long days helping farmers at crop time for 50? a day.
Norman went into the Army Air Corp in 1941. The war broke out so he was in for the duration. He got
out when the war was over in 1945.
Norman was very witty and a joy to be around. He was always cracking jokes. He will really be missed
by those who knew him. He was once sitting in the dining area at the nursing home; he was 102 at the
time, when he discovered that a lady setting across the table from him was also 102. She was two months younger then Norman. They discussed their upbringing and past history. Norman decided it was time for him to go back to his room. He turned to the 102 year old lady and said, “Well I was going to ask you out for a date until I found out how old you are.” I don’t think she ever spoke to him again.
Norman had an older sister, Lena Ann Norcross (Muir), and siblings, Lorene Norcross (Brown), and Ray
Norcross and Faye Norcross, who were twins. I think I am his only surviving relative. I am J.D. Muir.
Norman does have a person he actually considered as family. It is Fred Rankin (wife, Barbara). Norman
helped Fred’s mother raise Fred and his brother, Gene. Jack considered Norman as his father figure. They loved each other like father and son. Fred’s real father was killed in WWII.
My, J.D’s, mother was Lena, the oldest of the children. I do not know how they made it through the
depression. They heated and cooked with wood, raised big gardens and canned a lot. No refrigerators or ice boxes. They would bury vegetables under mounds in the ground and dig them up in the winter time. The whole family would catch a ride on a truck coming to Indiana in the summer time and pick tomatoes, green beans, etc, to make a little money.
When Norman got out of the Army he had saved enough money to buy a 1928 Chevy. His neighbor liked the looks of it and wanted to trade Norman out of it. After a lot of trade talk they finally made a trade. His neighbor got the Chevy, and Norman got the neighbor’s Model T Ford, a cook stove and a cow. Norman gave his mom the cook stove and the cow. That’s how things were back then.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, August 16, 2019 at Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home with
John Sichting officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Bartholomew County Veterans Honor
Guard. Visitation will be noon to 1 p.m. Burial will be held at Garland Brook Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hickory Creek Nursing Home through the funeral home.
You are invited to light a virtual candle and send a message to the family via the internet.
Information:www.jewellrittman.com.
