Norma Jean Knipe

For Norma Jean family was everything. She enjoyed getting together with them at every opportunity and holiday. She loved them dearly and always greeted them with a big smile and hug while telling them she loved them.

Growing up, she was a 4-H member and lived on a large dairy farm in Bedington. While there, Norma Jean learned the value of hard work from being part of a farm family. Later in life, she loved reminiscing about her life on the farm where she had made so many cherished memories.

Anyone who knew Norma Jean knew she was an excellent cook and baker. Many of the meals she prepared over the years were made from things grown in her garden and she had canned herself. Her excellent baking skills led her to win the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival's pie baking contest one year and the apple dessert contest the following year. In addition to baking, Norma Jean loved to grow flowers. She achieved an official recognition for floral arrangements from Frederick Community College in 1972.

Norma was a lifelong member of Bedington United Methodist Church. As a young girl, she was active in Methodist Youth Fellowship. She was also an active member of the WV Extension Community Education Outreach Service - Bedington Echo Falls Chapter for 17 years. Norma enjoyed the fellowship and friendship of her group immensely. Serving her community, Norma also helped to deliver Meals On Wheels for several years with her special niece, Mary Ann Brannon.

Norma Jean was born August 5, 1937, to Nellie May (Pitzer) Gantt and Henry Daniel Gantt. She graduated from Martinsburg High School in 1956. After graduation, she entered West Virginia's College of Beauty Culture where she graduated as a beautician on June 14, 1957. Norma owned and operated her own salon for over 30 years. She married Kenneth Knipe on May 31, 1957.

She is survived by one daughter, Sonia Anne Knipe, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, other extended family and close friends: Lucille Michael, Phyllis Mummert and James Cloud. In addition to her parents, Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Knipe; sister, Helen (Gantt) Linton; and brother, Fred Gantt.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 2, 2026 from 5-7 pm at Rosedale Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held on Friday, July 3, 2026 at 10:00 am at Rosedale Funeral Home with interment immediately following in Rosedale Cemetery. The Reverend Scott Summers will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Bedington Methodist Church or Hospice of the Panhandle.