Obituary for Norma Phelps

Norma Elaine (Wharton) Phelps (Powell, Ohio), loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend peacefully slipped away to her final rest surrounded by family on Saturday, November 26th, 2022. She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph Thomas Phelps and daughter Kathleen Cox, and survived by daughter Barbara Phelps ( Powell, Ohio), and grandchildren Kathryn (Danny) Mullins of Grove City, Ohio, Sienna Phelps of Powell, Ohio, Justice Cox of Bellefontaine, Ohio, and Allison Cox of Marysville, Ohio.

 

Norma was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, moved briefly to Utica, New York, and graduated from Hackensack High School, New Jersey. Norma moved to Southern California where she met and married Joseph Thomas Phelps and raise their daughters in La Puente, California. She worked as a school bus driver, and volunteered as her daughters' softball manager. Norma also love to have the neighborhood kids over to swim in the backyard pool. There was always a lot of noise, but she always knew where everyone was. 

 

A job transfer sent the family to Westerville, Ohio where she continued working as a school bus driver and began teaching driver training and driver's education.

 

Shortly before retiring, Tom and Norma built their own home on Fancher Road in Westerville, Ohio.  Even though neither of them had construction experience, they still stick built the walls and got up on the roof. Afterward, Norma questions, " I don't know what made us believe we could build a house. "

 

Norma like to make quilts. She would make baby quilts for every first time mom or grandma that she worked with. She felt great joy whenever she was told that now grown " baby " still uses and cherishes the quilt she made. Norma was always very encouraging and a good listener. She enjoyed the friends she made as a regular at der Dutchman's breakfast table. She loved meeting new people, hearing their stories and telling jokes.

 

There will be an open house to celebrate the life of Norma Phelps on Sunday, December 11, 2022 1:00 p.m. at her home, 1651 Woodspring Drive, Powell, Ohio 43065. The family would appreciate your presence