Kendall Norman

Kendall Norman was born on March 21, 1945 in Waterloo, IA, to Vivret and Lois Henry Norman.  He was the middle child of three siblings, older brother Paul (deceased) and younger sister Marcia.

He attended Grant Elementary, McKinstry Junior High and East Senior High School in Waterloo, IA and was a good student and an athlete, excelling both in academics and sports, especially football and wrestling. Kendall loved participating in his high school music program, playing clarinet and on occasion, he directed the swing band.

Kendall accepted Christ at a young age and was a member of the Antioch Baptist Church in Waterloo.

Kendall attended Iowa State University, where he wrestled and earned an Associate’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and was a charter member of his Omega Psi Phi fraternity chapter. After graduating from ISU he was hired by 3M (Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing) Company.  His employment at 3M was interrupted when he was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War.  He enlisted and shortly thereafter was accepted into Officer Candidate School where he was recognized for his great leadership skills.  He was promoted to rank of Captain and served in the Vietnam War as a reconnaissance pilot, flying the OV-1 Mohawk aircraft. Kendall returned to 3M Company after leaving the military, working in various capacities in Minnesota, California, Washington, DC and Cincinnati, OH where he retired after 35 years of service. While working in 3M’s Electrical Products Division in Washington, DC, Kendall also obtained a Bachelor’s degree in International Business from American University.

While in the military and stationed in Newport News, VA, Kendall met and was married to Janice Camp Norman in 1968. Their union produced three sons, Kevin Kendall, Eric Jermaine, and Rodney Reginald.  That marriage ended in divorce. Kendall later met Filisha Campbell Camara in Washington, D.C. where they were married in 1984. Kendall joined Filisha in parenting her son, Rogér Oumar Camara. Together they worked lovingly and diligently to raise their four sons to be honest, hard-working, and God-fearing young men, attending and actively serving in Southminster Presbyterian Church in Oxon Hill, MD.  While in Maryland, Kendall was involved in the lives of many youth as he coached both the Cavalier Cavalette Track Club and the Friendly High School Wrestling team. A wonderful father, Kendall’s love of nature was shown by the various camping and hiking trips and the canoeing excursions he so much enjoyed taking with his sons. Each son received sailing lessons for their thirteenth birthdays.

Relocated to Cincinnati, OH with 3M in 1990, Kendall and Filisha joined Lincoln Heights Missionary Baptist Church soon after the family move. Kendall joined the Male Chorus, and he was ordained as a Deacon. He served faithfully, energetically, and with great commitment to the Health and Wellness Ministry. Passionate about all aspects of health and fitness, he became a licensed Massage Therapist and also led the “Movement Hour” exercise class at LHMBC twice a week. He planted and tended the LHMBC community garden every summer for several years. Deacon Norman also served in the Married Couples’ Ministry and regularly taught the Married Couples’ Hour of Power Sunday School class. He also gave strong support to the LHMBC Troas Ministry, going on mission trips to Haiti and Nigeria in 2017, 2018, and 2019. He also became a sponsor of several orphaned children in Nigeria through Back2Back Ministries.

After retiring from 3M, Kendall continued to stay busy. He obtained his real estate sales license and joined his wife Filisha for several years as a residential sales agent with Sibcy Cline Realtors. He also worked at Argosy Casino and Barr (which later became Teva) Pharmaceuticals.

Kendall’s caring and compassionate spirit was manifested in his commitment to serve others as he became a Home Health Aide and regularly accepted assignments to help the sick and disabled in their homes or during hospital stays as requested by ComforCare Home health care agency.

He loved to travel domestically and internationally with family, either to the annual Salter-Saulter Family reunions or on amazing vacations and cruises, visiting Canada, China, France, Jamaica, Mexico, and Senegal (French-speaking West Africa). He especially loved driving across the country on long road trips to Florida, Las Vegas, Texas, California, Minnesota, Hilton Head Island & Myrtle Beach, to name a few. Most recently, Kendall and Filisha were very blessed to go on a once-in-a-lifetime cruise to Tahiti and other islands in the sparkling South Pacific in celebration of 40 years of togetherness.

Kendall was called home to be with the Lord on November 4, 2019. He was preceded in death by his parents Vivret and Lois Norman, and his brother Paul. Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife Filisha, his sister Marcia Murray of Bloomington, MN, sister-in-law Lurline Baker Kent of Woodbury, MN, sons Kevin (50) (Angela) of Mason, OH, Eric (46) (Joanna) of Houston, TX, Rodney (45) (Pamela) of Waldorf, MD, and Rogér (44) of Columbus, OH. He was blessed with five wonderful grandchildren: Ashley and Mariah; Ryan; and Paris and Rodney Jr. He leaves behind a niece, Lisa, three nephews: Todd, Justin, and Chad, and a host of other beloved relatives and friends from all over the United States.

Kendall’s kind, patient, faithful, and joyful character impacted everyone he met. People from all walks of life loved and respected him. He was truly a special and unique human being who epitomized loving commitment and a lifetime of humble service to God, family, community, and country.

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