Norma Adalyn Harris, age 81, of Fairborn, passed away on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at Hospice of Dayton while surrounded by her loving family. Norma was born the daughter of Elijah Fred and Nanny (McMillan) Carnes on January 25, 1937 in Kosciusko, Mississippi.
She was preceded in death by her husband, T-SGT. Olin C. Harris, her parents, sisters Mary Leola Wall, Martha Spain, Marguerite Gray, Ruth McMillan, Betty Packard, and one infant sister; brother William “Bud” Carnes, two grandchildren, Lori Harris and Bradley Harris Minton. Norma is survived by two sons, Tom (Denise) Harris of Fairborn and Gene (Jan) Harris of Huber Heights, daughter Patsy (Terry) Minton of Fairborn, grandchildren Darren (Della) and their child Sofia; Jason (Tiffany) and their two children Camryn and Addison; Jenna (Spencer), Jon, Jared (Amanda) and their two children Cole and Carter; and Joel. Norma was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She will be missed by all of those who loved her.
Norma volunteered as a missionary in the Philippines while her husband was stationed at Clark AFB. During that time she became fluent in the native language (Tagalog) which helped her to pass along God’s word.
After returning to the U.S., Norma volunteered as a caseworker for the American Red Cross. Most notably she was the chief disaster caseworker after the Xenia tornado in 1974. It was because of this effort that Norma was honored by the Red Cross with the Clara Barton Award, the highest award bestowed for volunteer leadership.
After the fall of Saigon, Norma assisted with the refugee efforts in Fort Indian Town Gap, Pennsylvania. Also during her time with the Red Cross she assisted with several hurricane relief efforts in the Caribbean. Some of Norma’s most fulfilling Red Cross hours took place helping the students at the Fairborn Primary and Baker Middle School Clinics.
Norma was a prayer warrior & her family was her number one priority. She was a long time member of the First Baptist Church of Fairborn where, even through her sickness, she was active with the church prayer chain. Through all of her efforts, Norma’s number one goal was to make sure her family and friends had a relationship with her Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.
Friends may call on Tuesday, September 4, 2018 at Burcham Tobias Funeral Home 119 E. Main St. Fairborn, Ohio from 5PM – 7PM. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at the First Baptist Church of Fairborn 1167 Highview Dr. Fairborn, Ohio 45324 at 11AM. Interment will be on Thursday, September 6, 2018 at Evergreen Cemetery in Parkersburg, West Virginia at 12PM. Memorial contributions may be made to the Red Cross. Online condolences may be left at www.BurchamTobiasFuneralHome.com
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