Norma Caroline Poe

Norma Caroline Poe

August 4, 1922 ~ January 13, 2008

Norma Poe passed peacefully on Sunday, January 13, 2008, at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, California. Her son, Larry, and two daughters, Roberta and Valerie were at her bedside. Norma had been in the hospital since December 31, 2007, and during her two weeks there she was able to visit – personally or by phone – with her closest friends and family (including most of her 7 great grandchildren, 8 grandchildren and two sisters – her brother Bob died several years ago). Norma was 85.

Norma was born in Boise, Idaho on August 4, 1922 to Frank and Elsie Borup. Her father owned a poultry farm and her mom was considered by many locals to make one of the finest chicken pot pies in Boise. Along with her sisters and brother, Norma was expected to pitch in and help the family business. Plucking chickens is no fun but everyone helped out in the Borup household and Norma learned early about the importance of ‘family’. This was to have an important impact on her life.

The family moved to California in the 1930s and settled in Huntington Park. She attended Huntington Park High School and started dating a handsome, tall, lean fellow, Bob Poe. They were inseparable. They were engaged a few days before Bob began his service in the US Army Air Forces and married on April 24, 1943. Bob continued to serve in the military until the end of the war. By 1951, they had three children and were living in Hollydale, California. Norma was the consummate homemaker – always conscious of the value of a good diet, exercise and hard work. It is a testimony to Norma’s life that all three of her kids are family-oriented parents.

When her husband retired in the 1980s, they sold their family home, bought a recreation vehicle and took off to see America. They traveled extensively in the Northwest and lived for a while in Port Townsend, Washington, near her sister, Barbara and husband Lee. Norma always had a close affinity with the Victorian era and the architecture of Port Townsend suited her. But the call of family drew the Poes back to Southern California to be closer to their children – and, by then, grandchildren.

Bob and Norma designed their own Victorian home in Big Bear. It was large enough to house their kids and grandkids and became the focal point during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays for many years. They truly cherished their time in Big Bear and had many friends in the area. Bob was a do-it-yourself guy and the two of them not only oversaw the construction and maintenance of their home but put in many hours of their own labor in making it the wonderful place it was.

After her husband’s death in 1999, Norma became the matriarch of the family. She stayed alone in Big Bear for a short time before moving to Huntington Beach near two of her children and their families. Once again, she recreated the interior of her home like a Victorian parlor from the 1800s. She was active all her life playing different sports – volleyball, softball, horseback riding, tennis, ping pong and paddle tennis. In her later years, she was often seen walking her little black poodle, Nikki, daily around the Landmark residences.

All of us who knew Norma are better for it … and we will miss her warm smile, great sense of fun and strong family values. “Here’s looking at you, kid.” We love you.

Memorial Services will be held at the Huntington Landmark on Saturday, January 26, at 1pm in the clubhouse, near the corner of Atlanta and Magnolia, Huntington Beach. Please phone Terry at 805-340-0608 for directions or more information.