Philip F. Norman Sr., 93, of Fayetteville, passed away at Crouse Hospital on Jan. 29, 2021, after suffering a heart attack. Phil was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, affectionately known as “Gramp”.
At the age of 17 he left his hometown Chittenango to join the Navy and fight in WWII. He proudly served his country in the Pacific Theatre. After the war he studied carpentry and established himself as a home builder in the eastern suburbs of Syracuse. He built the Fayetteville home that he had resided in for 63 years until the time of his death.
Phil loved history and travel, taking his family on all kinds of wonderful trips around the country to learn about our heritage. He loved a cold beer, watching SU basketball games, and eating potato salad, sauerbraten, and strawberry shortcake. He loved swimming in Cazenovia Lake, and then in our own family swimming pool for 52 years. He enjoyed watching old movies, working puzzles, and painting. He had his first art show at the age of 90.
After retiring, he and Mom traveled to Hawaii, Bermuda, the Virgin Islands, the Panama Canal, and Mexico. He restored a 1930 Model A Ford Pickup truck and enjoyed showing it as a member of the Manlius Antique Car Club. Phil enjoyed attending lunches and events at the Fayetteville Senior Center and Clear Path For Veterans in Chittenango. He was selected to participate in the 2019 Honor Flight to Washington D.C. as a WWII survivor, an experience he said he would never forget.
Surviving Phil are his wife of 69 years, Barbara Edwards Norman; his three children, Suzanne (Thomas) Nelson, Cherie (Steve) Lutter, and Philip F. (Donna) Norman; seven grandchildren, Benjamin Nelson, Jenna (Andrew) Evans, Jocelyn Lutter, Dr. Andrew (Kristen) Nelson, Stefan (Jenny) Lutter, Seth Lutter, and Emily Norman; and six great-grandsons, Wesley Evans, Jensen Evans, Owen Lutter, Miles Nelson, Beckett Nelson, and Bruno Lutter.
A memorial service will be held in August at Panther Lake where Mom and Dad had a camp for over 30 years.
Contributions in Phil’s memory may be made to the Fayetteville Senior Center, 584 E. Genesee St., Fayetteville, NY 13066 or to Clear Path For Veterans, 1223 Salt Springs Road, Chittenango, N.Y.
For guest book, please visit scheppfamily.com.