Royal D. Norman
July 16, 1932 — April 23, 2018
Royal D. Norman, 85, of Cedar Rapids died Monday, April 23, 2018, at Hiawatha Care Center. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, April 30, 2018, at Noelridge Christian Church, 7111 C Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids. The Reverend Stewart Royce will officiate. Friends may call at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Marion, from 3 – 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 29, 2018. Inurnment will be in Cass Cemetery, rural Webster City, at a later date.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Elizabeth; three sons, Jeffrey (Heather) Norman of Iowa City, Bradford Norman of Ely, and Cortland (Judy) Norman of Bradenton, Florida; two daughters, Crystal (Brian) Bast of Cedar Rapids and Jennifer Norman (Esteban Asencio) of Dominican Republic; eight grandchildren, Jason (Stephanie) Norman, Sybil Norman, Jesse Norman, Meghan Bast, Nicholas Bast, Davíd Asencio, Sarah (David) Drea, and Kristen (Ty) Goldsberry; and five great-grandchildren, Wesley Norman, Penelope Tjerina, Sophie Norman, Tate Norman, and Finn Norman. He is also survived by one sister, Doris Fletchall of Argyle, Texas; two brothers, John (Marlene) Norman of Webster City and Richard (Monica) Norman of Tampa, Florida; two brothers-in-law, Everett (Carol) Crystal and William (Diane) Crystal; five sisters-in-laws, Evelyn (Dean) Simpson, Georgianna (Gary) Gourley, Jean (Jon) Kayser, Mary (Marvin) Boicourt, and Dorothy (Fred) Buchner; and nephews and nieces, Scott (Meredith) Norman, Kim (Dallas) Holtam, Vali (Bruce) Hale, Vicki (Rick) Suntken, Cheryl (William) Robinson, Cassandra (Robert) Nash, Marla (Kevin) Bates, Jonna (Rick) Tudor, and Lana (Kelly) Lode; and several great nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jess Wesley Norman and Opal Gertrude (Naylor) Norman; parents-in-law, Everett Crystal and Bertha Elkin Crystal; sister, Phyllis Holtam; brother, Gene Norman; brothers-in-law, Donald Holtam, Lyle Fletchall, Estle Short and Harry Barrick; and sisters-in-law, Connie Norman and Viola Short-Barrick.
Royal was born July 16, 1932, in Lamoni, Iowa, the oldest son of Jess and Opal (Naylor) Norman. He graduated from Leon High School in 1950 and received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Drake University where he majored in accounting. In the summer of 1950, he met Elizabeth Crystal in Webster City and they were married July 3, 1954 at First Christian Church in Fort Dodge with the Reverend Marvin Gee officiating. He served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict reaching the rank of Sergeant.
Royal joined Collins Radio Company in 1960, and its successor company, Rockwell International, (now, Rockwell Collins), retiring in 1997 after 37 years in various areas of accounting and finance. He was a member of Noelridge Christian Church, serving in various capacities.
Travel was an important part of his life as he toured and vacationed with his wife to several countries in Europe, Asia, Central America, and the Caribbean Islands. For many years he looked forward to the family vacations at Thanksgiving to Mexico and the Caribbean Islands. He loved when family would gather for holidays and was always quick to get a card game of “shanghai” started.
In lieu of flowers, friends may, if they wish, make a memorial contribution in Royal’s name to Noelridge Christian Church or Camp Courageous.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. John Buatti and Dr. Varun Monga at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, the staff at Hiawatha Care Center, Mercy Hospice, and care giver, Deb Kent for the care given to Royal.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Elizabeth; three sons, Jeffrey (Heather) Norman of Iowa City, Bradford Norman of Ely, and Cortland (Judy) Norman of Bradenton, Florida; two daughters, Crystal (Brian) Bast of Cedar Rapids and Jennifer Norman (Esteban Asencio) of Dominican Republic; eight grandchildren, Jason (Stephanie) Norman, Sybil Norman, Jesse Norman, Meghan Bast, Nicholas Bast, Davíd Asencio, Sarah (David) Drea, and Kristen (Ty) Goldsberry; and five great-grandchildren, Wesley Norman, Penelope Tjerina, Sophie Norman, Tate Norman, and Finn Norman. He is also survived by one sister, Doris Fletchall of Argyle, Texas; two brothers, John (Marlene) Norman of Webster City and Richard (Monica) Norman of Tampa, Florida; two brothers-in-law, Everett (Carol) Crystal and William (Diane) Crystal; five sisters-in-laws, Evelyn (Dean) Simpson, Georgianna (Gary) Gourley, Jean (Jon) Kayser, Mary (Marvin) Boicourt, and Dorothy (Fred) Buchner; and nephews and nieces, Scott (Meredith) Norman, Kim (Dallas) Holtam, Vali (Bruce) Hale, Vicki (Rick) Suntken, Cheryl (William) Robinson, Cassandra (Robert) Nash, Marla (Kevin) Bates, Jonna (Rick) Tudor, and Lana (Kelly) Lode; and several great nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jess Wesley Norman and Opal Gertrude (Naylor) Norman; parents-in-law, Everett Crystal and Bertha Elkin Crystal; sister, Phyllis Holtam; brother, Gene Norman; brothers-in-law, Donald Holtam, Lyle Fletchall, Estle Short and Harry Barrick; and sisters-in-law, Connie Norman and Viola Short-Barrick.
Royal was born July 16, 1932, in Lamoni, Iowa, the oldest son of Jess and Opal (Naylor) Norman. He graduated from Leon High School in 1950 and received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Drake University where he majored in accounting. In the summer of 1950, he met Elizabeth Crystal in Webster City and they were married July 3, 1954 at First Christian Church in Fort Dodge with the Reverend Marvin Gee officiating. He served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict reaching the rank of Sergeant.
Royal joined Collins Radio Company in 1960, and its successor company, Rockwell International, (now, Rockwell Collins), retiring in 1997 after 37 years in various areas of accounting and finance. He was a member of Noelridge Christian Church, serving in various capacities.
Travel was an important part of his life as he toured and vacationed with his wife to several countries in Europe, Asia, Central America, and the Caribbean Islands. For many years he looked forward to the family vacations at Thanksgiving to Mexico and the Caribbean Islands. He loved when family would gather for holidays and was always quick to get a card game of “shanghai” started.
In lieu of flowers, friends may, if they wish, make a memorial contribution in Royal’s name to Noelridge Christian Church or Camp Courageous.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. John Buatti and Dr. Varun Monga at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, the staff at Hiawatha Care Center, Mercy Hospice, and care giver, Deb Kent for the care given to Royal.
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