William Raymond Norman was born on the kitchen table in his home on February 18th, 1927 to his parents Minnie and Abraham Norman. He is the youngest of four children including: Sally (Weintraub), Phillip, and Nathan. As the baby he was happy-go-lucky. He was the “(bottle) capper” for his father’s bootleg wine business during Prohibition recalling a police raid or two on their house during that time. He enjoyed going to double features at the movies for 10 cents and raising havoc while there. Will was the “chaperone” for his sister’s dating exploits and recalled the thrill of sitting in the rumble seat of his future brother-in- law’s car.

During The War, he worked in the converted Pierce Arrow plant making planes for Curtis Aircraft watching his brothers go off to fight, Phil in the Pacific and Nate with Patton’s Army in Europe. He jumped at the chance to enlist on his birthday in 1945 joining the Coast Guard because the Navy office was closed that day due to a winter storm. Though he was not the guy in Navy uniform featured in the iconic photo kissing the young lady on VE day, he did enjoy being in Times Square that day. He recalls that, unbeknownst to him, someone had drawn a likeness of Popeye on the back of his Navy white uniform in pink lipstick.

After The War he worked with his father in the scrap business and also finished high school utilizing GI Bill funds to obtain his GED. He reports that the classes were unruly given that heretofore grizzled combat veterans who had seen and done too much were now supposed to sit and behave in a classroom. The term PTSD had not yet been invented, but surely those young teachers were tested mightily in the service of education.

On February 14th, 1948 he went to a Valentine’s party that would change his life. He met Ruth Speier there and from that moment they were inseparable until his passing in 2009. They were married 28 August 1949.

Will was the paragon of the work ethic. He left business school to help his ailing father in the junk business impacting his work life forever. Nonetheless he along with Ruth were able to support their family with a middle class life by the sheer sweat of their combined brow. Will worked in the junk business for most of his working life. He also bought and sold produce as a “huckster” getting up at 3 AM to go to the market to buy fruits and vegetables. He also worked in the Chevy plant making crankshafts until his arm gave way and later in the Bell Aircraft plant making helicopter doors during the Vietnam War. He even worked at a car wash later in his working life. Often he worked up to 3 jobs at a time just to help make ends meet.

Will was a loving, caring, involved son and father. He loved to tell stories which were tinted by his wholehearted sense of humor and his infectious laugh. He smoked until age 42, but never drank. He was a gentleman. He never used foul language at home even though he always worked in rough environments and he treated his wife like a queen. He was also a devoted son taking in his father at various times, also visiting him regularly. Through the years he always craved being close to his siblings no matter their distance. He enjoyed attending a Norman family reunion in 2006 where he and another cousin reunited not having seen each other since 1944.
He reveled in his grandchildren, especially Joshua, Ilana and Leah Yurka who lived across the street. This was a true gift which he celebrated by being their afterschool taskmaster, snack provider and chauffeur throughout their school years. After retirement, Will and Ruth traveled and enjoyed each other’s company until his body gave out from all the years of hard work. His legacy was loyalty, selflessness and he was beloved by all who knew him as a true mensch.

He is survived by his daughter Barbara Yurka and her husband John, by his son Earl and his wife Tamara. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Joshua, Ilana and Leah Yurka and Zachary (his wife Shira) and Aviva Norman. He is also survived by his great grandchildren: Olive, Teddy, Charlie and Maxibillion Norman. His life was truly a blessing.