Brevard, NC - Virginia Ford Norris went to be at peace with the Lord on July 31, 2015. She was 96 years old. Virginia was born in Detroit, MI on May 23, 1919. Her parents were Maurice A. Ford and Josephine H. Curtis. She had three sisters, Mrs. (Marjorie) William Pettengill, deceased, Charlotte Ford, deceased, and Mrs. (Marion) William Huble, deceased.
Virginia spent 11years at St. Stephen School after moving to Port Huron, MI in 1920. Her studies included piano and organ lessons, graduating in 1937. She especially liked accompanying the men’s choir at Sunday Mass and Midnight Mass on Christmas Eves.
She worked at the Detroit Edison Company for five years where she met Earl Norris who introduced her to flying. Eventually she took lessons and received a private pilot’s license. Earl & Virginia were married in Hollywood Beach, FL on July 17, 1943 where Ensign Earl Norris trained with his PBM squadron for six weeks. She followed him until he was sent to the Pacific area during World War II. Virginia went back to her family’s home and gave birth to Kenny on April 29, 1944. Everyone was very happy when Earl came home “on leave” in time for Christmas 1944 and saw his 8 month old son, Kenny for the first time. He returned to his squadron and left Virginia & Kenny until the next Christmas when the war was over. They spent the rest of 25 years moving to Naval Air Station in Willow Grove, PA living in Jenkintown, Glenview, IL where he became Commander, Grosse Isla, MI, living in Trenton, MI, Virginia Beach, VA and Alexandria, VA where Earl became Captain at the Pentagon. During all this moving they added 3 children to the family; Richard A. Norris (Far Hills, NJ), Christine Jo Ledergerber (Brimley, MI) both born in the Philadelphia Naval Hospital and Julie Ann Noble (Brevard, NC) born in Trenton, MI.
After 5 years in the Pentagon, Earl retired and they moved back to Glenview, IL. When the children were older, Virginia had several occupations; taught needlework and piano lessons, secretary’s assistant in Grade School, secretary in insurance office and Engineer Assistant at Underwriters lab in Northbrook, IL. In 1974 they moved back to Port Huron, MI where Virginia & Earl became volunteers in the start of the Food Bank that supplied area churches, eventually taken over by the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Virginia is past president of the League of Catholic Women and the League of Women Voters. She is a life member of Christian Mothers of St. Joseph Church. With the League of Women’s Voters, Earl & Virginia helped get the recycling program started in Port Huron. In 1993 they moved to Melbourne, FL and lived in Indian River Colony Club for 9 years. They became volunteers at Wuestoff Medical Center, Rockledge, FL. Virginia was a past president of Laureate Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, Melbourne, FL. Earl & Virginia enjoyed Elderhostel trips to Europe, a Caribbean cruise and a cruise to Alaska. In Brevard, NC they found College Walk Retirement Community and made many new friends. Virginia joined Sacred Heart Catholic Church and The Ladies Guild.
Besides 3 of her children, she is survived by 7 Grandchildren and 8 Great-Grandchildren. Earl died March 14, 2007 and Lt. JG Kenneth Norris died in Vietnam January 31, 1969.
A Memorial Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Saturday, August 29, 2015 at 11 AM. Burial will be in Saint Michael Cemetery in Palatine, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sharing House, Transylvania Christian Ministry, PO Box 958, Brevard, NC 28712 or Bread of Life, 238 South Caldwell St., Brevard, NC 28712.
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