David Joel Norman, 79, died Thursday, March 9, 2017. Born in McDowell County, Marion, NC on February 10, 1938, he graduated from Marion High School and then moved to Newport News to work for Newport News Shipbuilding where he retired after 38 years of service. He attended Warwick Assembly of God.

He pursued his passion for music in many ways, from singing in and touring with a gospel quartet to singing, playing bass guitar, rhythm guitar and keyboard in several bands. Most recently he has been performing in a duo volunteering their talents for the Sarah Bonwell Hudgins Foundation and at a Presbyterian church in Zuni, VA. His leisure time was spent with his wife out on the James River in a boat that he built.

Preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, a brother, a brother-in-law, and a son; survivors include his wife, Peggy Elaine Norman; four sons, Clark Norman and wife, Tammy of Mebane, NC, Todd Norman and wife, Lori of Colorado Spring, CO, Jay Pepper and wife, Sheryl of Newport News, and Tommy Townsend of Wilmington, NC; seven grandchildren, Kathie, Kayla, and Kellie Norman, Kelsey Lamanna, James Norman, Jacob Pepper and Rachel Pepper; and a sister, Beverly Norman Dale and husband, Arthur of Winston-Salem, NC.

A memorial service will be conducted at 2:00 PM, Saturday, March 11, 2017 in the R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home chapel by Pastors David Highlander and Caleb Harris.

Memorials may be made to the Sarah Bonwell Hudgins Foundation, 1 Singleton Drive, Hampton, VA 23666.