Kathleen Withrow Norman

Kathleen W. Norman (Kathy), age 97 and resident of Tallahassee, Florida, passed away on Thursday, July 10, 2025. Kathleen was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She is survived by her five children: Gloria W. Kohlmann (Jim), Richard E. Norman III (Anne), David W. Norman (Nancy), Nancy K. Sharp (Lee), Daniel T. Norman (Kate), twelve grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.

Kathleen was born in Charleston, SC on July 13, 1927, the daughter of Clifford and Winnie Withrow. She had three sisters, Frances, Mary and Betty Anne. Mary, her surviving sister, resides in GA.

At the age of 16, Kathleen graduated from high school in Albany, GA and enrolled in GSCW College in Milledgeville, GA. After a year at GSCW Kathleen returned home to work. It was there that Kathleen met her future husband, Richard Norman, at a USO dance. Richard was in the Army Air Corp and was training at Turner Airfield. It was love at first sight. Kathleen and Richard were married in Albany, GA in December of 1945. The newlyweds moved to Richard’s hometown of Jacksonville, FL. It was there that Richard and Kathleen had five children. Richard was a commercial airline pilot, and Kathleen was a homemaker. She was active in the local church and busy supporting her children’s many outside activities. She loved to sew and made clothes for her young children.

In 1965 the family relocated to Hollywood, Florida. As the children matured, Kathleen stayed busy with activities outside the home. She was active in her local church, an accomplished tennis player and avid bridge player. After Richard retired, they moved to Tallahassee, FL in 1996. Kathleen continued playing tennis and became active in the local bridge club. She started the Easy Bridge program at the Tallahassee Senior Center and continued to play bridge and eventually obtained her goal of Bronze Life Master.

Kathleen was devoted to her faith and had boundless pride and passion for her family. For many years, Kathleen and Richard made a point to have an annual family trip with Kathleen’s sisters and husbands. This connection with her sisters and instilling family ties was important to Kathleen. She was dubbed the “flying mom” by her family, as she always came to support her children when a new grandchild was born. Her positive attitude, words of encouragement and sweet smile will be remembered by those who knew her briefly and those who knew her well.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 27th at 11:00 am at Deer Lake Church, 8013 Deerlake Road South. Following the service, an inurnment ceremony will be held at Culley’s MeadowWood Memorial Park, 700 Timberlane Road. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308 and Deer Lake Church, 8013 Deerlake Road South, Tallahassee, FL 32312.