Obituary for Arthur Lee Norman Jr.
Arthur L. Norman, Jr.
1/18/1933 – 7/21/2021
Arthur L. Norman, Jr. (Art, Dad, Grandpa, Great Grandpa) was born in Seattle, WA to Arthur L. Norman, Sr., and Veronica Josephine (Grieser) Norman. In 1956, he married his beautiful bride Sylvia Janet (Gauntlett) Norman from Bellevue, WA, and they were happily married for 64.5 years.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, sister Donna (Norman) Herman, and twin great grandbabies Gabriel and William Bowman. He is survived by his wife Sylvia, his sister Adelle (Norman) Petersen, his children, David Norman, Sharon (Norman) Carter, Renee (Norman) Kisch, Diane (Norman) Foster, 12 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
He attended Boulevard Park Elementary School and graduated from Highline Highschool, in Burien, WA. In 1951, after finishing high school, he honorably and proudly served his country in the US Coastguard. He talked a lot about the time he served in Westport, WA. He was a Master Class competitor on the Coastguard Rifle Team at the Camp Perry National Championship.
He went to work for his father-in-law in the Rainier area as a machinist/welder and later supervised a welding and machine shop in heart of Seattle. He built many of the trailers for the unlimited hydroplanes and would write each of his kids and grandkids name inconspicuously on the trailers. He repaired parts for the hydro’s and would work in the pits on Seafair weekend. He knew most all the drivers and their crews. When movies were being filmed in Seattle, many production teams would come to him to have things made or fixed. He built almost all the yellow newspaper bicycle trailers for the newspaper boys. He enjoyed and did a lot of work for people for free and without expecting anything in return. In his trade he was a master craftsman and was the best of the best! He always worked hard and was offered to take over the business, but declined, as it would take too much time away from his family. His work ethic was unmatched as he wouldn’t miss a day of work even if he was hurting or not feeling well, except for his yearly family vacation. His legs were scarred from all the welding and melted metal dripping. When he came home from work, he always had a treat in his lunchbox for his children, and that carried on with his grandchildren. If he drove into the driveway and seen that the grandkids were visiting, he would back out of the driveway and head to the store returning with something in his lunchbox for each child. When the grandkids visited his shop, he always made time for them and would find a treat for them there too.
He lived a full and rich life and was often found serving others in any way he was needed, including as a Sunday School Teacher, Board of Directors @ Church by the Side of the Road, Boy Scout leader, Lions Club – Whidbey Island. He was a perfect host.
He loved his family, friends, fishing, camping, the ocean, and lighthouses. He was a rockhound and loved to share this hobby with his grandchildren.
He was a devout Christian. He raised his family, teaching them salvation through Jesus Christ and was an example of how Christ would have us live. He showed a selfless love for others as Christ teaches and was a great source of encouragement and wisdom for many. He was loved by all who knew him and would quite literally give the shirt off his back to anyone as needed. He was a man of integrity. He was strong physically, mentally, and spiritually, even to the day he passed. As many have said, he was a lighthouse to a darkened world. We love you Dad!
1/18/1933 – 7/21/2021
Arthur L. Norman, Jr. (Art, Dad, Grandpa, Great Grandpa) was born in Seattle, WA to Arthur L. Norman, Sr., and Veronica Josephine (Grieser) Norman. In 1956, he married his beautiful bride Sylvia Janet (Gauntlett) Norman from Bellevue, WA, and they were happily married for 64.5 years.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, sister Donna (Norman) Herman, and twin great grandbabies Gabriel and William Bowman. He is survived by his wife Sylvia, his sister Adelle (Norman) Petersen, his children, David Norman, Sharon (Norman) Carter, Renee (Norman) Kisch, Diane (Norman) Foster, 12 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
He attended Boulevard Park Elementary School and graduated from Highline Highschool, in Burien, WA. In 1951, after finishing high school, he honorably and proudly served his country in the US Coastguard. He talked a lot about the time he served in Westport, WA. He was a Master Class competitor on the Coastguard Rifle Team at the Camp Perry National Championship.
He went to work for his father-in-law in the Rainier area as a machinist/welder and later supervised a welding and machine shop in heart of Seattle. He built many of the trailers for the unlimited hydroplanes and would write each of his kids and grandkids name inconspicuously on the trailers. He repaired parts for the hydro’s and would work in the pits on Seafair weekend. He knew most all the drivers and their crews. When movies were being filmed in Seattle, many production teams would come to him to have things made or fixed. He built almost all the yellow newspaper bicycle trailers for the newspaper boys. He enjoyed and did a lot of work for people for free and without expecting anything in return. In his trade he was a master craftsman and was the best of the best! He always worked hard and was offered to take over the business, but declined, as it would take too much time away from his family. His work ethic was unmatched as he wouldn’t miss a day of work even if he was hurting or not feeling well, except for his yearly family vacation. His legs were scarred from all the welding and melted metal dripping. When he came home from work, he always had a treat in his lunchbox for his children, and that carried on with his grandchildren. If he drove into the driveway and seen that the grandkids were visiting, he would back out of the driveway and head to the store returning with something in his lunchbox for each child. When the grandkids visited his shop, he always made time for them and would find a treat for them there too.
He lived a full and rich life and was often found serving others in any way he was needed, including as a Sunday School Teacher, Board of Directors @ Church by the Side of the Road, Boy Scout leader, Lions Club – Whidbey Island. He was a perfect host.
He loved his family, friends, fishing, camping, the ocean, and lighthouses. He was a rockhound and loved to share this hobby with his grandchildren.
He was a devout Christian. He raised his family, teaching them salvation through Jesus Christ and was an example of how Christ would have us live. He showed a selfless love for others as Christ teaches and was a great source of encouragement and wisdom for many. He was loved by all who knew him and would quite literally give the shirt off his back to anyone as needed. He was a man of integrity. He was strong physically, mentally, and spiritually, even to the day he passed. As many have said, he was a lighthouse to a darkened world. We love you Dad!