Norman Frank Pooler

Norman “Norm” Frank Pooler, 86, of Centerville, OH, passed away peacefully at his home on the afternoon of December 3, 2024. He was born July 13, 1938, in Topeka, KS, to Walter and Eula Pooler. He is survived by Ida Lee, his loving and adored wife of 50 years, 3 months and 9 days. He is also survived by his daughter Marcy Jean; sons Eric Sean and Adam Neal (wife Megan); grandchildren Owen, Olivia, and Steven; sister Susan Walker; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his first child, Roderick Norman, in 2018, and by his parents and four of his siblings.

Norman earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering in 1961 at The University of Kansas. He earned a Professional Development Degree from Wright State in 1980, the first such degree conferred there. He spent 32 years working for the Department of Defense, first at the USAF’s Defense Electronics Supply Center (DESC) then at Wright Patterson AFB, mostly designing survival and personal safety equipment for pilots and aircraft, until his retirement in March 1993, as a Chief Support Systems Engineer, Aeronautical Equipment System Program Office (SPO). He earned numerous awards and the deep admiration of those who worked under him and with him for his hiring practices, managerial style and respect toward all.

Norm loved to enjoy his times with his family, sing, tell stories and (“dad”) jokes, and work on cars and other vehicles, especially Corvettes; he rebuilt a few, and he was passionate about and innovative in all things mechanical. He created and implemented numerous designs that made his and others’ lives easier, safer and/or more enjoyable.

He intensely valued the pursuit of learning and science, and his having contracted polio in 1951 at the age of 13, before a vaccine was available, made him a strong advocate for everyone in the world having access to such preventative healthcare. This disease nearly took his life then, and its after-effects contributed to his considerable health and mobility challenges throughout the rest of his life and to his ultimate passing.

Norm followed his parents’ lead in passionately enjoying traveling, camping and experiencing nature, and he visited all of the lower 48 states at least once. He particularly enjoyed making several visits to various US National Parks, islands in the Gulf of Mexico, and a variety of historical sites across the country. He was a loving, caring and generous husband and father and a proud grandfather, and Norm also loved connecting with his extended family and discovering his family’s lived history and genealogy.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate our beloved Norman Pooler on Sunday, April 6th, 2025, at the Anderson Family Celebration of Life Center at 1357 E. Second Street Franklin, Ohio 45005, right behind Anderson Funeral Home. The family will receive people from 2 pm to 5 pm. Starting at 3:30, anyone who would like to share a personal tribute to Norman and special memories of him will be invited to speak. In lieu of flowers, it would be greatly appreciated if memorial contributions are made in his honor to Doctors Without Borders, Habitat for Humanity or the Autism Society of Dayton.