Norman Christ Pottschmidt, Jr., 87, of Tallahassee, Florida passed away at Big Bend Hospice House in Tallahassee, Florida on December 8, 2016 after a lengthy illness. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on February 14, 1929 to Norman Christ Pottschmidt and Carolyn Elizabeth Schumaker.
He first enlisted in the United States Navy in June 1946 serving far and wide from Lakehurst, New Jersey to Adak, Alaska; Guam to Hong Kong, China and finally to Key West, Florida. Most of his service was sea duty, in several staffs, ships and oversea stations. During this time he earned five Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Korean Service Medal and the Navy Commendation. He unflinchingly served through the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam Campaigns and never lost a day of time. His last sea duty was aboard the USS Constellation during the Vietnam Conflict. After his Navy career ended, he continued his meteorologist career for an additional 15 years as a Civil Service employee of the Department of Commerce, National Weather Service. He retired from the U.S. government in 1984 in Lake Charles, LA.
From that time forward, he and his wife traveled around the United States and Canada. Their last home was in Tallahassee, Florida where he passed away on December 8, 2016. During his retirement years, the couple was especially fond of the Hawaiian Islands and made many trips there to enjoy the culture and the glorious beauty of the islands.
Chris, as he was known to family and friends, was stationed at the U.S. Naval Air Station in New Iberia, LA and it is at this time that he met his future wife, Barbara. They were married on October 28, 1961 and enjoyed 55 years of marriage. Norman was preceded in death by his father, Norman Christ Pottschmidt and his mother, Carolyn Schumaker Murray. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Ann Pottschmidt (nee Babineaux), his children, Ross Olin Pottschmidt and wife Catherine, Valerie Pottschmidt Cleveland and husband Robert, and Eric Karl Pottschmidt and his wife Pamela. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Chelsea Elizabeth Pottschmidt Stage and husband Benjamin, Olivia Chloe Pottschmidt, Christian Allen Pottschmidt, Stephanie Cleveland Sobotka and husband Taz, Matthew Elliot Pottschmidt and Sydney Elizabeth Pottschmidt. All of them will miss him dearly.
In keeping with his wishes, no formal services were held in Tallahassee, Florida. Inurnment will be held at a later date in the Port Hudson National Cemetery in Louisiana. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Big Bend Hospice House at 1723 Mahan Center Boulevard in Tallahassee, Florida, who gave him some much tender and loving care, where he passed away peacefully with dignity.
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