Normond McBride

Normond McBride, 98 of Fort Wayne, IN was released from this life into everlasting life with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on June 21, 2025. He died at home in South Carolina where he lived with his daughter, Jan. Jan and her daughter Jamie were with him as he breathed his last earthly breath. Pat, Ken and Sandy greatly appreciate Jan making her home Dad’s home for the last three and a half years. Though he was missed in Indiana, he couldn’t have had better accommodations, loving care and companionship.

Dad was born Dec. 2. 1926 to Grover and Charlotte McBride and grew up in Fort Wayne. The man who said “I’m not going to get married” married “the only woman for me,” Maxine G Bixler on April 30, 1949. They raised their four children in the Christian faith and were members of Union Chapel Church.

Dad was a WWII veteran in the US Army and a retiree of Dana Spicer Axle in Fort Wayne. On Fridays in the summer, Mom would have the car packed, including us four kids and the family cat, when dad arrived home from work in the hot factory. He would jump into the family station wagon and speed over the hilly roads to the little pink cottage on Big Long Lake where many family memories were made. One time he even got out of the car and ran down the pier and jumped in the lake fully clothed!

Dad drew plans for and, with his brother-in-law, Louis Smith, built a few homes in NW Fort Wayne, including our family home on Broadmoor Avenue and our cottage on Big Long Lake in Hudson, IN. They don’t build them like this anymore! ( both him and the house). He lived in that house for over 70 years.

He is preceded in death by his parents, His siblings, Ray McBride, Laverne (McBride) Smith and Harold McBride, his wife, Maxine and his son-in-law Don Thompson.

Surviving are his children, Pat Thompson, Jan McBride, Ken McBride (Divine) and Sandy Blilie (Barney), 7 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild who love him and will miss him dearly.

Dad had a ready smile (that made his eyes seem to disappear) and a friendly charm. Someone coming to visit always brought a big smile. When it was time for visitors to leave, he would often say, “what’s your hurry?” no matter how long they had stayed. He loved family gatherings, even if it was for a family funeral, just to catch up with everyone. He enjoyed fishing and water-skiing and hosting holiday and church gatherings at the lake cottage. 4th of July was a favorite as he lit strands of firecrackers all at once along the beach. He would ask, “who’s poppin’ the corn?” for our snack during the lake association firework display.

You would often find Dad in his garage working on some type of repair or at a neighbor's house just chatting or helping out with something. Looking for him at suppertime was a common occurrence! His God-given aptitude and ingenuity with how things work impressed and benefitted many.

His keen mind for remembering passwords, doing mathematical equations in his head, and planning travel routes made him a formidable euchre player!! He knew what cards were still in someone’s hand.

He loved listening to hymns and gospel music. And we all remember Saturday nights watching “Hee Haw.”

It was Dad’s hearts desire and fervent prayer that others know Jesus and place their faith in Him for forgiveness and salvation that we would all share in the Presence, Peace and Promises of God for all eternity. By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Even as his eyesight diminished, he could be seen with a light and a magnifying glass reading his Bible.

You may have read the sentiment, “If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I would walk right up to Heaven and bring you back again.” Not so! He is where he longed to be - our temporary sadness for his eternal glad! What a day that will be when my Savior, I shall see, when I look upon His face the one who saved me by His grace, when He takes me by the hand and leads me through the promised land, what a day, glorious day that will be Oh the things he is seeing now!!

Services will be held on Sunday, June 29, 2025 2:00 pm D.O. McComb Funeral Home - Covington Knolls, 8325 Covington Road, Fort Wayne, IN with visitation two hours prior to the service. His body will be laid to rest at Covington Memorial Gardens on Monday, June 30, at 10am, 8408 Covington Road, Fort Wayne, IN.