Norman R. Woodburn

Norman’s Life Story Norman Randolph Woodburn went from labor to reward on Sunday, July 16, 2023 at the Harbor Chase assisted living facility in Wilmington, Delaware. He was born on March 15, 1939, in Darby, Pennsylvania, to Norman Alphonso and Anna Belle Woodburn. He grew up in South Philadelphia and Morton, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Ridley High School in June 1957. His post graduate desire was to attend college to become an architect. He excelled in his high school industrial arts classes. Unable to attend college, due to financial reasons, he entered the United States Navy at the age of 18 (1957). Norman spent the next two years on the heavy cruiser the USS Des Moines, CA-134 in the Mediterranean Sea in the areas of France and Spain. He loved it! He returned to the United States in 1959 and attended Navy school in Chicago, Illinois. There, he met the love of his life Ardella H. Green, a Navy girl. The two were united in holy matrimony on April 18, 1959. Upon the completion of Navy school for both of them, the happy couple was transferred to a duty station in Portsmouth, Virginia. Two years later, they were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Dawn Michelle. Norman’s second duty station was at St. Albans Naval Base in Long Island, New York. The family resided in navy housing in East Meadow, Long Island. The happy couple was again blessed with the birth of a child, a son, Norman Howard Randolph on June 30, 1964. Norman worked seven days a week. Monday through Friday was in the Navy job. Weekends were at St. Albans Hospital shooting patient Xrays. He wanted Ardella to be a stay at home mom while their children were young. He was stationed in New York for nine years. Norman’s third duty station was at the Naval Air Station in South Weymouth, Massachusetts (south of Boston). He was stationed there for five years. It was here that he began to fulfill his lifelong dream of attending college. He attended night school at Northeastern University in Boston. He achieved an Associate’s Degree in Radiologic Technology. He was finally a college graduate! Norman was transferred to his final duty station, prior to naval retirement, in July 1976. He was stationed at Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta, Georgia. There was no Navy housing at this duty station. So, Norman and Ardella were blessed to obtain their first and only house in East Point, Georgia. They loved their home and East Point. Norman was at this duty station for three years. After twenty two years of dedicated service in the Navy, Norman retired in July 1979. After Navy retirement, Norman had several different employment opportunities. He was too young to be fully retired. His first job post retirement was the program director at the Crawford Long Memorial Hospital X-ray School, a division of Emory University Hospital. He maintained this position for eight years, until the X-ray school was closed. He enjoyed teaching, the perfect job for such a talkative person. After the closing of the school, Norman had another educational opportunity. He attended radiation therapy school at Grady Hospital in Atlanta. Upon completion of the one year program, he became a licensed radiation therapist. After that, Norman moved onto his next opportunity as the Director of Radiology at the Veterans Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. He maintained this position for nine months. Wanting a change from the health and science field, Norman changed gears and sought employment at the Georgia State Department of Natural Resources, Land and Water Division. This was the state division of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He enjoyed taking geology courses at Georgia State University to better prepare him for his new role as an Environmental Specialist. He was in his element again, which was school. He enjoyed this job and retired in 2009, after eighteen years of dedicated service to the state of Georgia. Norman enjoyed all of his jobs. But, he really enjoyed retirement. He said that he should have done it sooner! For the next five years, he and Ardella were blessed to travel. They enjoyed a Mediterranean cruise from Rome, Italy, to France and Spain. They cruised the California coast line and enjoyed a bus trip to Chicago, Illinois, where their love story began. They finished out their travel with a trip to Aruba and Martha’s Vineyard. Satisfied with traveling, Norman settled into retirement at home in East Point, Georgia. He and Ardella were active members of the Bowden Senior Center in East Point, Georgia. They were also active members in Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, home of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Norman served as a Trustee and President of the Prison Ministry for thirteen years. He enjoyed running for twenty five years and completed several half marathons. He ran the beloved Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta on the Fourth of July every year for over twenty five years. One year, his son, Norman H.R. Woodburn and son in law, Collin C. Walker went to Atlanta and ran the ten K race (6.2 miles) with him. They didn’t do it again, too hot and humid they said (laugh)! Norman loved football and had Atlanta Falcons season tickets for many years. Although he resided in Atlanta, he still rooted for the Philadelphia Eagles, too! He and Ardella also enjoyed going out to breakfast several mornings a week. Crackle Barrel was their favorite breakfast spot. Norman would tell the waitress to keep the coffee coming and make sure that it was piping hot! He was an avid coffee drinker. But, his favorite retirement activity was to visit family in Morton, Pennsylvania, his grandchildren in Wilmington, Delaware and his grandchildren in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Norman was a proud husband, father, grandpa and Navy veteran. His family and friends learned many life lessons from him. He was all about the education and he would let you know it! He often spoke his mind, whether you asked him or not. He was an avid talker and lecturer, sometimes to the point of becoming hoarse (smile). His wisdom was always on point, whether you wanted to admit it or not. He gave superb wisdom and was known for many sayings. One of his favorite statements was “you’re either part of the solution or part of the problem!” He would explain that in other wards, don’t be complaining if you’re not willing to work towards a solution. How very true! After residing in East Point, Georgia for forty two years, Norman and Ardella relocated to Wilmington, Delaware in December 2018. The relocation was due to health issues after Norman’s stroke on June 1, 2018. He and Ardella had to leave their beloved home in East Point and enter into the Arbor Terrace At Cascade Assisted Living Facility in Atlanta, Georgia in July 2018. They remained here for four months until Norman’s health was stable for the relocation. Their new home was at HarborChase Assisted Living Facility in Wilmington, Delaware, where an active, quality lifestyle was maintained for as long as possible. Norman was preceded in death by his parents, Norman A. and Anna B. Woodburn, his spouse Ardella G. Woodburn, a daughter in law Evette C. Woodburn, and a niece Darlene Y. Graves. He leaves to cherish his memory a daughter Dawn M. Walker (Collin) of Wilmington, Delaware, a son Norman H.R. Woodburn of Riverdale, Georgia, two sisters Sharon A. Askew (James) of Wilmington, Delaware, Eleanor J. Walker of Woodlyn, Pennsylvania, a granddaughter Brandi A. Woodburn, three grandsons Roman A. Woodburn, Sean T.M. Walker, Matthew A.G. Walker, cousins and a host of friends. Norman’s talks and wisdom will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Jesus and his family were most precious to him. Lovingly submitted, The Family The Facebook and YouTube link for streaming are on Shiloh’s website: shilohchesterpa.com

Norman R. Woodburn

March 15, 1939 - July 16, 2023