Maj. Mark L. Norvell

[ironputts]

July 5, 2024

Maj. Mark L. Norvell
Mount Vernon Composite Squadron
National Capital Wing

Mark Lawrence Norvell was born on January 8, 1951, in Manhattan, Kansas, to Lawrence and Joy Norvell. He passed away suddenly on June 4, 2024. Mark grew up in Manhattan, KS, where he met his wife, Paula, in high school. He always said he knew she was the one as soon as "she walked into band with that French horn tucked under her arm," and they were Pops Choir partners. They were married for 52 years and still acted like high school sweethearts. They both earned Bachelor's degrees at Kansas State University, and Mark worked as a mechanical engineer until he retired.
After briefly living in New Orleans, Mark and Paula moved to Wichita, KS, where their first two children, Amy and Scott,were born. They then settled in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they had their third daughter, Susannah, and spent the next 45 years. He and Paula were active in their beloved church community at First Methodist Church and in their Sunday School class, One In The Spirit. He was an avid recreational pilot and flew single engine aircraft in the Council Oak Senior Squadron of Civil Air Patrol, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the Oklahoma Airmen Flying Club. He had spent almost 2,000 hours in the cockpit.
In 2023, he and Paula embarked on a new adventure, moving to Burke, Virginia, to be closer to their grandkids. Mark and Paula were becoming active at Immanuel Bible Church and the Ambassadors ABF, and getting to know their Braddock Lake community. Mark was quickly making friends everywhere he went. He was just getting involved in the local Civil Air Patrol and Coast Guard Auxiliary and had taken some initial flights exploring his new part of the country.
Mark is survived by his wife, Paula; his three children and their spouses, Amy Tserenkova and husband Robert, Scott Norvell and wife Melanie Lahti, and Susannah Larson and husband PDave; and five grandchildren, Christopher and
Michael Tserenkov, Henry Norvell, and Lucy and Jack Larson. He is also survived by his siblings Nancy Fruetel, Bruce Norvell, and Gary Norvell, their spouses David, Kay, and Colleen, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Mark had a gentle and kind spirit, and he had a great sense of humor. He was an amazing husband, dad, grandpa, brother, and friend. He gave us a glimpse of the Heavenly Father's love through the way he cared about his family. Mark
had a great appreciation for God's creation, revealed in his curiosity about the world and his love of learning. He could fix anything. He loved Jesus, his family, flying, and walking the lake. He had a love for life and a twinkle in his eye until his last day. He will be desperately missed.