Norma Davis

Davis, Norma J.

1927-2019

Norma Juanita Davis, 91, died on Jan 17, 2019, at Kobacker House, Columbus, OH, surrounded by family. Norma was born Sep 23, 1927 to Joshua H. and Bessie A. (Sanders) Nichols in Muncie, IN. Norma was the youngest of three children, including Robert W. (Jane), who survives, and George R. Nichols (Pauline), who is deceased.

She was a true product of the Great Depression, having lived for years in Templeton, IN, in a four-room house, which was built by her father and had no water or electricity. Norma graduated from Otterbein High School (Otterbein, Indiana) in 1944 and from Indiana University in 1948 with a Bachelor’s in Education (Math, Chem, and Bio). Norma met Bruce Davis while attending IU, and they married in 1948. With his bold personality and her calm, steady determination, they enjoyed 61 years of marriage.

Norma taught high school math in Aurora, IN, 3rd/4th grade in Quincy, IN, and tutored advanced high school math students in Gosport and Sweetser, IN, before serving as a mathematician for the Naval Ordinance Facility in Indianapolis, IN, until giving birth to her first child and becoming a full time mother and homemaker in 1953. Norma was fiercely devoted to her husband, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, extended family, and circle of friends. She continued to demonstrate her talent for teaching through numerous hours of patient tutoring of any child struggling in school, no matter the subject. Norma was a caregiver at the core, having cared for her mother for years; being a second mother to her grandchildren; and providing nine years of care to Bruce as he struggled and became more and more incapacitated during his battle with Parkinson’s Disease and peripheral neuropathy.

Norma and Bruce enjoyed his retirement from Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus in 1983 after a long and distinguished career in the aerospace industry (she never retired as caregiver to whomever needed it). They enjoyed biking, walking, traveling and visiting their sons in CT and VA until Bruce became ill. Norma especially enjoyed their trip to Europe and their trip throughout Western U.S. to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary.

Norma is survived by her three children, Jennifer (Lewis Beman), Mark, and Robert (Pamela Dobson); four grandchildren, Joanna Newman (Adam), Alyssa Cramer (Jason), Laura Henderson (Brandon), and Abigail Davis; and seven great-grandchildren, Olivia and Madeline Newman, Caleb and Sophia Earhart, Hailey Cramer, and identical twin babies, Noah and Aiden Henderson.

Norma was formerly a member of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church until attendance became impossible during Bruce’s extended illness. Following Bruce’s death, she attended Vineyard Church of Columbus with family. Norma left this world having lived a full life, leaving a legacy of love, devotion, and integrity. Norma believed she will be with her Heavenly Father and her Lord Jesus Christ, who gave his life for her (John: 3-16) and looked forward to being reunited with Bruce and other loved ones in the heavenly realm.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Marc Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Foundation ( https://www.lustgarten.org/donate/ ), 415 Crossways Park Drive, Suite D, Woodbury, NY, 11797 would be appreciated. Let’s vanquish pancreatic cancer, which is truly a cruel, stealthy, and relentless killer.