Ponte Vedra Beach, FL – Norman Lee Phelps, 85, of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL died Saturday, October 29, 2022, at his residence.
He was born in Hamilton, Ohio, a son of the late Joe Phelps and Anna Laura Ward. He graduated from Hamilton High School in 1955. He attended the University of Chicago in Illinois where he met his wife of 49 years, Janet L. Phelps, who passed away in 2010. He had a varied career, primarily in insurance and technology, serving as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of National Liberty as well as Tangram Enterprise Solutions and in many other senior executive roles with other companies. After retiring, he served for many years on the board for the charity, Christian Blind Mission. He also served his country in the United States Marine Corps from 1960-1966 reaching the rank of Sargent. He was a lifelong servant of Christ and most recently a member of the Baptist Church of Beaufort where he served in many roles including as a Deacon and a docent.
He was a patient, kind and supportive father and grandfather who always wanted the best from and for his children, family and friends. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren as well as extended family and looked forward to seeing them whenever he could. He maintained a lifelong positive and stoic personality until the end; never complaining. He relayed a story that when he asked his father, Joe, the secret of his success his father simply replied ‘instead of growing horns, grow antenna’. Norman actively followed that advice for his entire life.
He is survived by his children, Seth M. Phelps of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and Scott J. Phelps of Berwyn, PA; his daughters-in-law, Gina Phelps and Molly Phelps; grandchildren, Zachary, Victoria and Luke; and several nieces and nephews.
The family will hold a memorial service on Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 10:30am at the Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge, PA followed by interment with his wife in the adjacent cemetery.
The family has requested in lieu of flowers that donations be made in Norman's name to the Alzheimer’s Association of Central and North Florida (www.alz.org/cnfl) or Community Hospice and Palliative Care of Jacksonville (www.communityhospice.com).
