Norris Elgin Flodine

In the 99 years since he was born near Stamford, Nebraska on December 7, 1915, until he died at home in New Braunfels, Texas on December 4, 2014, Norris Elgin Flodine lived a life of integrity, tenacity and devotion to family.

That life had many pivotal moments. One of those occurred while he was eating birthday cake on his 26th birthday when word came over the radio that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. That broadcast signaled the start of his four years as a Navy Seabee. During most of the war, he was in the first wave of Americans who followed the U.S. Marines onto Pacific Islands like Saipan, Okinawa and Tinian. A 1940 architecture graduate of the University of Nebraska, his skills were in great demand as he built runways and barracks while dodging the sniper bullets that would occasionally ping off his tractor.

But without doubt, the most significant event of his life occurred at the University of Nebraska where he met Jean Miller. He and Jean married the day after graduation and headed to Houston in their Model A because they were told that’s where the jobs were. In less than two years, Jean would find herself trading gas ration coupons for rides with truck drivers as she hitchhiked across the country to see Norris in San Francisco before he shipped out to the Pacific.

That level of devotion lasted 66 years until Jean died in 2006. But, Norris was blessed to marry another loving wife in Polly Johnson. They enjoyed seven wonderful years together bringing joy and comfort to each other. Polly loved Norris’ beautiful blue eyes, but she was not the only lady to admire them. Polly would remind him: “They are all mine.” Polly is a blessing and much loved by her new family.

Norris and Jean have a daughter, Nancy Hubler, and son, James Flodine. They are left with the memories of a dad who put his family above all else. When Nancy and James were children, the Flodines traveled to every state except Alaska. Their parents spent many hours listening to Nancy and James master the accordion and piano and chaperoned Nancy and an all-accordion symphony of her friends to play at Carnegie Hall. Norris and Jean also acted as chaperons for a student exchange of 20 high school students, including Nancy and James, for “Operation Amigo” in Ecuador. Norris was also a Cub Master, Scout Master and Explorer Post Advisor until James graduated from high school and years after.

The family spent many happy days at the “Golden Acre,” five beautiful, wooded acres on the Guadalupe River. The “Golden Acre” began as a porch on a trailer and during 25 years of Norris’ hard work and leadership expanded to include three floors, a dance hall and two kitchens. It was Jean and Norris’ weekend sanctuary until they retired there permanently in 1975. In New Braunfels, Norris and Jean expressed their love of dancing as founders of the Starlight Ballroom Dance Club. Norris was also a member of the Eagles Aerie #2999 and the American Legion #179.

Before leaving Houston, Norris spent almost his entire career working for the Federal Housing Authority and retired as its chief architect for the Houston region, which stretched from Beaumont to Pearland to College Station. James spent summers learning from his Dad how houses should be built as he accompanied him on inspections across the region.

Like so many of his generation, Norris overcame multiple hardships. As a child, he should have died when a farm wagon ran over him and broke his pelvis. At 10, he was kicked in the head by a horse, lost part of his skull and carried a life-long imprint on his head. When Norris and Jean were on vacation in Hawaii with their kids, their house burned to the ground. In three “100-year floods” during 30 years, the Guadalupe River washed away their possessions and family pictures from the Golden Acre and each time left behind two feet of mud. Through it all, Norris exemplified strength and showed his faith in God. That faith guided his many years of service to the church, including 27 years as a leader and member of the Church in the Valley.

Norris is predeceased by his parents Oscar Flodine and Minnie Perkins Flodine, his siblings Leola Lewis, Forrest Flodine and Margaret Vahle, and his nephew Stephen Halverson. In addition to his wife Polly, he is survived by children Nancy Hubler and husband, David, James Flodine and wife, Lynne Liberato, Ron Johnson and wife, Joanne, and Pam del Bosque, and husband, Tom. Grandchildren are Richard and Brian Hubler and wife, Mollie, Callon and Benjamin Nichols, Kim Johnson and Lisa Parrish and husband, Jason, Katie Jordan and husband, James, Jay Johnson and wife, Jennifer. Great-grandchildren are Aurora Hubler, Sydney, Gabriella and Jude Parrish, Trevor and Erika Johnson, and McKenzie Jordan.

The family would also like to express their deep appreciation to his caregivers Charlotte Narmore, Flavia Mendez, Claudia Avila, and Juan Garcia.

For those desiring to make a donation in his memory, his family requests that donations be made to the Church of the Valley; 14181 F.M. 306; Canyon Lake, TX, 78133.

Visitation (and Norris’ birthday party) will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday, December 7 at the Zoeller Funeral Home. A celebration of Norris’ amazing life will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, December 8, 2014, at the Zoeller’s followed by a reception there and then internment at Guadalupe Valley Memorial Park. Pall bearers and honorary pall bearers will be James Flodine, David Hubler, Richard Hubler, Brian Hubler, Ron Johnson, Jason Parrish and Jude Parrish.

Arrangements under the direction of Zoeller Funeral Home, New Braunfels, TX.