Norman R. Basham, 83, beloved husband, father, brother and a sweetheart of a man passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 22, 2019 in Sarasota, Florida. Born in Charleston, West Virginia, as the third child to William Howard Basham, a coal miner and mechanic/welder for the Red Parrot Coal Mining camp and Eula Mae Smith-Basham, a nurse. Norman had a fruitful career mostly at General Motors in Cost Accounting for Fisher Body in Tecumseh and the Warren (Mich.) Tech Center. A soft spoken and mild-mannered man turned into one of the most productive debt collectors for General Motors where an annual award still exists in his honor.
Norman married Ann E. Tschirhart of Milan, Michigan and shared 56 years of wonderful experiences with their three kids, Tom (Shelby Township, Michigan), Matthew J. Basham, Ph.D. (Bowling Green, Kentucky) and Angela Basham-Fink (Sarasota, Florida), six grand-children (Cody, Lauren, Matthew, Madison, Jackson, and Jacob).
Norman had a passion for helping people and for a great bargain. He frequently spent his weekends at garage sales and thrift shops finding bargains where ever he went. And later he would donate most of his purchases to those who needed it most. In his retirement years he loved to spend time playing cards, eating ice cream, and talking with his brothers. Norman was preceded in death by his youngest brother Ron Basham on February 8, 2019. He is survived by his older brother William Basham and his wife Ann Basham (Boston, Massachusetts) and Patricia Basham and husband Lloyd Van Meter (Chicago, Illinois).
A rosary service and visitation will be held at Robert Toale and Sons Funeral Home at Palms Memorial Park at 170 Honore Avenue, Sarasota, Florida 34232 on Tuesday, March 26, 2019. A funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at 9:30 am at Incarnation Catholic Church at 2901 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 34239. Graveside service with military honors and burial will follow at 1:30 pm at the Sarasota National Cemetery at 9810 State Road 72, Sarasota, FL 34241.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to be made in Norman’s honor to the Salvation Army or St. Vincent De Paul.
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