Norman Watkins England

Norman Watkins England, 84, died February 18, 2007 at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC surrounded by his wife and children. He was born on February 18, 1923 in Burke County, NC and was the son of the late Joseph C. and Roberta Wells England. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, J. C. England, Jr.

Mr. England was a graduate of Morganton High School and the International Correspondence School and was a U. S. Army veteran of World War II. As an employee of Shadowline for 33 years, he served as traffic manager, customer service and credit manager, and as a sales representative. Norman was active in various organizations including the Morganton Lion’s Club where he was former secretary and president and was recognized as "outstanding Secretary" of District 31-B for 1991-1992. In 1993 he was voted "Lion of the Year" by his fellow club members. He served as president of the Catawba Valley Industrial Traffic Club and was past president and vice-president of the Burke County Chapter 3262 of the A.A.R.P. He was a member of First Baptist Church and a former member of Calvary Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School and served as Superintendent, as a Deacon, and as a member of several committees.

Surviving are his wife, Katherine Tuttle England, of the home; his son, Ronnie England, of Martinsville, VA; his daughters, Jane England Beam and her husband, Dan, of Honey Brook, PA and Shirley England Wagner and her husband, Ric, of Pfafftown, NC; grandchildren, Kate Matikonis and her husband, Rob, Paige Santmyer and her husband, Dan; Jenny Beam, Lesley Beam, Nathan Wagner, and Matthew Wagner; great-grandchildren, Maggie and Colin Santmyer; and brothers, Kenneth England of York, SC, Glenn England of Morganton; and Bill England, of Raleigh, NC.

The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 21, 2007 in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home with Dr. Thomas A. Bland, Jr. officiating and members of the Morganton Lions Club serving as honorary pall bearers. Burial will follow at Burke Memorial Park with military rites conducted by American Legion Post 234 of Valdese. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Sossoman Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lions Club Benevolent Fund, P.O. Box 206, Morganton, NC 28680 or to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690.