Norman Delmer Holcomb, 84, went home to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 1, 2020 after a long illness and celebrated his 85th birthday in Heaven on October 2, 2020.
Norman attended Clay County High School. He served in the US Army where he was stationed in Germany. He also worked as a ship hand in the Great Lakes, in the steel mills in Ohio, and helped build the Summersville Dam. In 1961, he entered the US Air Force, served in the Vietnam War, and was stationed in Iceland and many other temporary duty locations across the world. He had his first child while stationed in Mississippi and his second child while stationed in Ohio. He was also stationed in South Carolina, Michigan, and Colorado where he retired with 23 years honorable service.
He began a second career with Pitney Bowes in West Virginia and then transferred to South Carolina where he retired again. Then, he started working at Publix Grocery Store until he stopped working there to care for Rose. He loved to work and to provide for his family. He also had a love for God, America, the outdoors, and animals, but gardening was his favorite (and bowling). In 2015, he returned to his beloved WV after suffering a devastating stroke. With many prayers and hard work, he made a full recovery and moved into Broadmore (now Elmcroft) Assisted Living in Hurricane, WV where he made many friends, two of which are Court and Jane. Thank you for being such good friends to our father.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Rose Ella (Foster), mother Flora (Bird), and father Alfred “Fred” Holcomb.
He is the oldest of 12 children and is survived by his son, Norman D. Holcomb Jr. (Jacquine) Parkersburg, WV, and daughter, Kimberly Ann Mitchell (Eric) Nitro, WV, brothers, Noel Lee, (Della) Bomont, WV, Keith (Patsy) Lizemores, WV, Destil (Grova) St. Simons Island, GA, Gary (Jomayne) Lizemores, WV, Roger, Lizemores, WV, Terry (Paula), Lizemores, WV, sisters, Nina Zinn (Luther) Bedford, VA, Kathy Holly (Frank “Kayo”), Jerusalem, OH, Sharon Steele, Charleston, WV, Kay Miller (Jack Mullins) Lizemores, WV, Beverly Dean, Lizemores, WV, a special sister-in-law, Shirley Harold, Mt. Olive, WV, a granddaughter Molly (Jake) Garretson, 7 step-grandchildren, 4 step-great grandchildren, 47 nieces and nephews, 67 great nieces and nephews, and 27 great-great nieces and nephews. He is missed and loved by all his family.
A special thank you to Carla, Rusty, Jenna, Josh, Susan and the entire Veterans Affairs Home Based Program Team. Daddy could not have done as well as he did without you and the support you gave to his daughter. Also, thank you CAMC and Select Specialty Hospital staff for being so kind and working with Norman’s wishes and to Keith at Cooke Funeral home for treating us like family.
A service was held Friday, October 9, at 2 p.m. at Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery, Dunbar, WV with full military honors.
In lieu of flowers, donations should be given to the Veterans Affairs Huntington WV.
Cooke Funeral Home and Crematorium, Nitro is assisting Norman’s family and you may send email condolences to www.cookefuneralhome.com.
