Lilly W. Norman

Lilly W. Norman of San Marcos, Texas,  beloved and cherished wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away on Thursday, August 26, 2010, at the age of 90.  She was born in Enfield, North Carolina on February 24, 1920, the daughter of Hubert and Nina (Vinson) Whitaker.

Lilly loved birds and butterflies, working in her garden and doing crossword puzzles . Being a keen supporter of nature conservation , she especially loved the scenic beauty of the wild and remote Davis Mountains. In her earlier years she enjoyed the pleasurable art of stained glass making.

Her parents, and a brother, Hubert Whitaker preceded her in death.

 Lilly is survived by her husband, Robert Norman, whom she married in the Whitaker Chapel in North Carolina on May 18, 1943; son, Robert B. Norman, Jr. and wife, LaVerne of Grand Saline, Texas; two daughters, Martha Kendrick and husband, Bill of The Woodlands, Texas, and Nancy Norman of San Marcos, Texas; brother, Wilson Whitaker and wife, Jacque of Atlanta, Georgia;  twin-sister, Emma Thomson and husband, Curt of Topsail Beach, North Carolina, and Nina Beavans of Enfield, North Carolina; sister-in-law, Marilyn Whitaker of Raleigh, North Carolina; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Lilly’s memory may be made to The Nature Conservancy-Texas, P.O. Box 1440, San Antonio, Texas 78295-1440, Tel. 210-224-8774.

A Come & Go to celebrate Lilly’s life will be held from 9:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M., on Saturday, September 11, 2010, in Todd Hall at the First United Methodist Church in San Marcos.

Arrangements under the care and guidance of Pennington Funeral Home, 323 N. Comanche, San Marcos, Texas 78666, 512-353-4311.  Obituary and guestbook online at www.penningtonfuneralhome.com

6 Condolences

• Ruth and David Bongio

  August 31st, 2010 on 2:18 pm

  Lil Norman, Wow, with her electric smile and that twinkle in her eyes she was something to behold. Full of energy she was a cross between Donna Reed and Daniel Boone. From being elegant, motherly, and a terrific homemaker to adventurer traveling to the interior of Mexico by train to trudging the rain forest of South America she was a spitfire to be reckoned with.

  She was known for her famous sourdough biscuits and let’s not forget her chicken spaghetti. When invited to dinner it was yes, yes, yes. I’ll be there! She gardened took unbelievable power walks up the tall hills in town, and was part of the bell ringers at church. She did counted cross-stitch and made stained glass windows. Nancy taught everyone in the emergency room to cross stitch and we even did our fair share of stain glass. Lil helped me to lose weight. we had one of her famous meals and then she said, “girls lets go for a walk.” She about did me in. Being 40 years older than me she was leaving me in the dust on those hills. I couldn’t move for a week. I hurt everywhere! But I heard her voice, “keep moving” and so I did. I started to walk daily and then it turned into a jog and then a run and I ran off those 50 lbs. Yes, she danced thru life one adventure after another (maybe that’s where Nancy got her sense of adventurous spirit)but Lil always had that warm smile and a hug making all she knew feel special.

  She and Mr Norman where married over 60 plus years and her family was everything to her. She beamed when she got a new picture of her grandchildren or great grandchildren. She travled to the Caymans many times to help Nancy set up her place in paradise from making curtains to putting in shelf paper she was a mom on a mission.

  She will be missed by many but she is tucked in our heart and memories forever. She crossed over onto her greatest adventure and you can be sure she is taking it all in, in her grand style. Dear Lil- travel well beyond the stars and we will stay here to carry on and use the loving tools you shared with all of us along the way to make you pround of a job well dome.

• Nicci Harrison

  September 8th, 2010 on 8:22 pm

  Sending my love and sympathy. Sorry , I won’t be able to see everyone but I will be out of town this Saturday.

• Connie Davidson Mitchell

  September 9th, 2010 on 9:59 pm

  I called her “Lil” when she was Dr. Parks’ secretary, as The Dean of Science at Texas State (SWT). I was the Science Purchaser and we had coffee daily. We didn’t miss our coffee breaks. A delightful, much admired “lady”. Her family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

• Johnny Roberts

  September 9th, 2010 on 10:29 pm

  Mr. Norman,

  I wanted to express my sympathy to you and your family with the loss of Mrs. Norman. She was a wonderful lady. I spent many great days in your neighborhood with Pat Ivey and his family. Please let Nancy know that I am thinking of her at this time, and that all of you are in my thoughts and prayers.

• GayNell and Henry Juenke

  September 9th, 2010 on 11:36 pm

  We offer our sincere sympathy to Mr.Norman and all his family for the loss of Mrs. Norman.
  Please accept our deepest sympathy.

• Ron Philo

  September 10th, 2010 on 1:49 am

  Every once in a while in life, one meets a true individual–one who is both unique and unfogettable. Lilly–Mrs. Norman to me since I don’t think I would ever have addressed her by her first name–was one of those few individuals I have been priviledged to know.

  I have many fond and cherished memories of her from high school years on through college when she worked in the Science building at SWT.

  I know that I am but one of many people who will always remember her with a smile in my heart.

  My condolences to all of the family–her husband, my old friend Robert and his wife LaVerne, and his sisters Martha and Nancy.

 Print This Obituary