Obituary of Norman R. Soule'

Norman Soule’ Norman R. Soule’, 95, of Eden, died June 11 Norman was born on Feb. 4, 1920 to James Soule’ & Maude Sheffield in Atco, New Jersey. He grew up & went to school in Randolph, NY. With a love for sports, he played soccer, volleyball & basketball during & after high school. In 1942 he joined the service and was a Gunner in the Navy Armed Guard aboard a Merchant Marine Ship in WWII. Once out of the service, he married Florence Heiderman of Lake View and made their home in Eden raising 4 children, Bill, Jim, Rosemary & Bob. Norm was a Carpenter Foreman & over the years he worked for Leising Brothers, Radimaker Brothers & Henrich Construction. He was a proud and life long member of the Newell Falkner Post 880 Am. Legion. When the Post on Legion Drive was built in 1955, he was head of the Building Committee where thousands of hours of labor, materials & equipment were donated by members, as well as the community. With a wife that loved to dance, they took dancing lessons & joined numerous dance clubs over the years doing ballroom & square dance. Their favorite song is “In the Mood”. Once retired, Norm & Florence moved to Ocala, FL, bought an RV & started traveling. Norm got as much enjoyment planning trips as he did traveling. They have been to every state in the US & Europe. When asked where was his favorite, he’d say “I enjoyed them all with each place having something special!” Norm enjoyed helping people, while living in Eden; he was a Little League Baseball Coach & joined the Eden Emergency Squad & Rescue Team. In Florida, he & Florence delivered “Meals on Wheels” until he was 93. He loved animals, when he & Florence would take their morning walk in Florida, he would talk to the rabbits, squirrels, dogs, osprey & etc. along the way saying his “good mornings” & the animals would always answer back, (like Dr. Doolittle). A crane would even come tapping to their glass doors every now & then, wanting a piece of bologna. Norm’s other interests were camping, hiking , fishing, watching sports on TV, and making wood crafts. He would take his creations to craft shows & enjoyed talking to the people. He even became a dancing instructor & a Disc Jockey for the Senior Center Ballroom Dances in Ocala, FL. Norm was also a member of the Soule Kindred in America Inc. which originated in 1969 of ancestors of George Soule from the Mayflower. In October of 2009, Norman & other WWII veterans took the Honor Flight from Ocala, FL to Washington, D.C. to tour the WWII Memorial; he said it was a reminiscing and emotional experience. When the plane carrying these members of “The Greatest Generation” finally touched ground again in FL, the family, friends, relatives & total strangers erupted into cheers and applause that surely was heard all the way up to heaven’s door. Survivors include his wife Florence, his children William (Beth) Soule’, James (Jendy) Soule’, Rosemary (Dennis) Peters, and Robert (Cindy) Soule’, 9 grandchildren & 10 great grandchildren. A Graveside & Military Service will be held at the Eden Evergreen Cemetery on Aug. 1st at 10am. Words of sympathy may be made on www.LaingFuneralHome.com