James W. Norvell

James W. Norvell

James W. Norvell, 80 of Corbin, Kentucky, passed Thursday, January 23, 2014, after a long battle with cancer.
J.W. was born June 8, 1933 to the late Newt and Ida Norvell. He received his elementary and secondary education at Old Lynn Camp School. After high school graduation, he enlisted in the Air Force during the Korean War and attended several military aviation schools obtaining the rank of Staff Sgt. rather quickly. He was a part of Flight Engineer Class 22112A at Chanute Air Base. When he completed active duty, he worked briefly in the Engineering Department Experimental Lab for Cadillac in Michigan. Then he returned home and attended Cumberland Junior College one year before enrolling at Eastern Kentucky University and earning a B.S. and M. S. in Industrial Arts in 1961. That same year he returned to Lynn Camp High School to implement a new Industrial Arts Program that he would teach for 8 years. He married Amelia Ruth Keck on December 16, 1961, who was also an EKU graduate and taught Home Economics at Lynn Camp High School. When American Greeting Card Corporation built a plant in Corbin, they hired an Engineering Department in 1969. J.W. was hired and worked for American Greetings nearly 30 years, retiring in May 1999 as the Senior Engineer. J.W. was a member of Keck Baptist Church, ordained as a deacon at Poplar Grove Baptist Church, and served as a deacon at the First Baptist Church of Corbin for almost 40 years. He was instrumental in the building of Baptist Housing in Corbin for which John Y. Brown, Jr. appointed him as an Ambassador of Goodwill. He was also a Kentucky Colonel. He was also a 50 year member of Cumberland Valley Masonic Lodge of Gray, Kentucky.
He is preceded in death by his parents Newt and Ida Norvell, his parents-in-law Anderson and Mary Keck, his sister Mary Norvell Scott (Floyd), and his brother-in-law William E. Hensley (Glennis). He is survived by his wife of 52 years Amelia Keck Norvell, his sister Glennis Hensley and his brothers-in-law Floyd Scott, Jay Roger Keck, William Keck and his sister-in-law Janice Sue Garrard (John); his 3 children Mary Thomas (Brian), Rodney Norvell (Marisa), and Ryan Norvell (Kayla); his 6 grandchildren; and his 7 nieces and nephews with 4 grandnieces and a nephew.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, January 26, 2014, in the Hart Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. J. Rodney Norvell and Rev. Jimmy Siler officiating. Burial will follow in Lynn Camp Cemetery. Pall Bearers are Lars Finneseth, David and Clifford Scott, Roger Keck, Bill Hensley, and Patrick Haggerty. Honorary Pall Bearers are Tom Davis, Dr. Robert Mackey, Julian Boggs, Glen Halcomb, Danny Barnett, Don Robinson and members of his Sunday School Class, Eddie Gunter and the members of his Sunday School Class.
The family of James W. Norvell will receive friends from 6 – 8:30 P.M. Saturday at Hart Funeral Home, Inc., located at 1011 Master Street in Corbin.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Keck Baptist Church or First Baptist Church of Corbin.

Share on Facebook

Tweet On Twitter