MERIDIANVILLE, Ala. -- Norma Louise Drew Tripp passed away on Feb. 25, 2011, after a long illness of cancer.
She was born on Nov. 25, 1933, in Winterport, at her grandfather Hopkin's home on Church Street. She was raised on the family farm on the Happy Comer Road in Patten. She graduated from Patten Academy in 1951 and was valedictorian of her class.
She was in the first class of the Maine Medical Center School of Nursing; graduating in 1954. She married George W. Tripp on Nov. 13, 1954. They celebrated 56 years of marriage on Nov. 13, 2010.
Norma worked as a registered nurse all over the world during her husband's 28 year career in the Air Force. She worked for 40 years in a variety of health care settings. She was an extraordinary wife and mother, taking care of her girls alone when her husband was on isolated Air Force tours.
She was a member of Toney United Methodist Church in Toney, Ala. She loved her church and the people in it, who were like family to her. She was a great Christian lady who lived her life to the fullest, always looking out for and helping those who were less fortunate than she. She was always an active church member. When her husband became a United Methodist Church minister, she helped by playing the piano and organ and teaching Sunday school. Her family and friends appreciated her gourmet cooking and service to others.
She was predeceased by her parents, Oscar F. Drew and Abbie Maria Hopkins Drew; her sister, Mary E. Falls; and Charlotte Dunn, a favorite cousin who was like an older sister. She leaves behind her husband George; and three daughters and sons-in-law, Katherine and Peter Bonney, Patricia and Wayne Jackson, and Barbara and Jeffrey Austin. She had six grandchildren, Rebecca Jackson, Alex Jackson, Kayla Jackson, Kara Bonney, Emily Austin and Katelyn Austin. She had one great-grandchild, Ayden Walling. She also leaves behind special cousins, Arlie Keddrel and his wife Mildred and the Cole family. Her special friends are Phyllis and John Thomas Davis; Edith and Richard Mason; Millard and Emily Armstrong; and Lorraine McDonough.
The funeral will be at Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Rd., South Portland. Visiting hours are from 12-2 p.m. on Saturday, March 5, followed by a service at 2 p.m., with the Rev. Dr. Thomas Merrill and the Rev. Betty Westhoven officiating. A fellowship gathering will take place afterwards. Online condolences may be expressed at the www.hobbsfuneralhome.com
At Norma's request, in lieu of
flowers, donations can be made to:
The Preacher's Aid Society of
New England Annual Conference
P.O. Box 3386
Plymouth, Massachusetts 02361-3386