Orvil E. Norman

Orvil E. Norman, 88, of Lake Katrine, died Thursday, June 14, 2012 at Ten Broeck Commons. Born on a farm in 1923 in Suffield, OH, he was the 4th of 6 children of the late Kent & Bessie Soden Norman. There Dad attended the "school of Hard Knox" as the family survived the Great Depression. Before even hitting the age of 12, Dad had learned the value of a dollar and what hard work was all about: working as a farmhand, fixing tractors, delivering newspapers. At 16 he ran the local feed store and made deliveries as far away as Pennsylvania! Even with all this time spent on labor, Dad continued to study hard and became class valedictorian and star of his school musicals. He was a veteran of the United States Merchant Marines, serving our country during WWII. Dad spent from 1941 to 1963 travelling the world as a Merchant Seaman, mostly as Chief Mate working his way up to Master (Captain). Throughout this time, Dad continued to farm and study while not at sea. At the age of 20, he was accepted into the Coast Guard Academy and again graduated as Valedictorian. He became an Ensign in the Naval Reserve. He later earned his Chief Officer's License in 1951. With all his childhood training, Dad retired from the ships and in 1964 bought the Kingston Garden Center on North Front St. Dad read everything he could find and attended many seminars to answer the constant questions he received, and eventually taught classes for Cornell Cooperative Extension and Ulster County Community College at prisons and BOCES. In 1968 he began his Saturday morning Lawn & Garden radio show on WGHQ, which he continued to host for 39 years. During that time, he also wrote a gardening column "Growin' Pains" for the Saugerties Post Star, and was guest speaker at many affairs throughout the county. With the success of his store and radio program, he eventually moved the store to its long-time home that he built with his hands in 1975 on Route 9W in the Town of Ulster. With the help of his family and devoted wife Ethel, he continued to run the business until its close in 1986. This began his love affair with the Town and the people of Ulster County. Dad continued to spend the next 20+ years as a community servant: He was Town of Ulster Councilman from 1975-1995, also serving as Police Commissioner, and on many boards such as Zoning, in order to help bring the many retailers into the Town. Dad was the first Recycling Coordinator for the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency, bringing in a recycling and composting plan and solid waste collection system; he helped launch the Ulster County Youth Court; and served on numerous organizations: Chairman of the United Way of Ulster County; Ulster County Youth Bureau board, Ulster County Office for the Aging Advisory Council and their RSVP; the board for Cooperative Extension and served as President; plus 15 years with Town of Ulster Lions Club. Along the way, he made so many friends and cherished memories that continued to mean so much to him right up to his very end. Of course gardening wasn't the only thing he did on radio. From 1990 until recent, Dad hosted the weekday morning show on WGHQ / Kingston Community Radio, 920AM. This was indeed his passion, sitting alongside so many important leaders, volunteers and businesspeople of the community, bringing information to the people of Ulster County and beyond. He was truly grateful for everyone's devotion. Orvil is survived by his wife, Ethel Learn Norman of Ten Broeck Commons; eight children: Gary of Coxsackie; Pamela Geskie of Round Top; Denise Halwick and her husband Jim of Saugerties; Brian and his wife Arleene of Saugerties; Paul of Kingston; O. Edward Norman II and his wife Caren of Saugerties; Kent and his wife Regine of St. Petersburgh, FL; and Jennifer Petramale and her husband Paul of Athens; one brother, Kent and his wife Betty of Ohio, and his beautiful sisters Grace Porter and Carla Lucas, both of Ohio, and Donna Porter-Burton of Texas. He leaves behind 15 Grandchildren, 11 Great Grandchildren, and a great many nieces, nephews, and daughters-in-law Anita, Melanie and Linda who all meant so much to him as well. In addition to his parents, Orvil was predeceased by his first wife, Phoebe Polefko Norman, and his sister, Margaret Norman. Reposing at the Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Ave, on Monday, June 18, 2012 from 2-4 and 7-9. A funeral service will be held Tuesday at noon at the funeral home. Interment will be private. Anyone wishing to make donations in lieu of flowers should do so in Orvil's memory to the Happy Christmas Fund, which he worked tirelessly on every year for 44 years to help families in need. Send to the WGHQ Happy Christmas Fund, 82 John St, Kingston, NY 12401.