William (Bill) Bowers Norwood, Lt. Col., Retired USAF

William Bowers Norwood, 80, of Ozark, MO, passed away November 23. He was born December 15, 1939, the son of Joseph R. Norwood and Margaret Brasher in New Orleans, La. He married Joan M. Bayhi on March 31, 1962 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Bill graduated from Warren Easton High School in 1957. In May of 1961, he graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, Louisiana, with a B.A. degree in Business Administration. In August of 1961, he entered Officers Training School and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on November 7, 1961. While stationed at Ellsworth AFB, Rapid City, South Dakota he was in the Minuteman Missile Education Program and received an MBA degree from Ohio State University in August of 1967. He also completed Squadron Officers School in 1969. He spent his entire military career in the Minuteman Missile program serving at various bases and leadership rolls.

After retiring from the Air Force at Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, he worked for Cronquist Farms, Gilby, ND, Black Gold Farms, Forest River, ND, and the Forest River Farmers Elevator. He also worked for the State of North Dakota, retiring from the state in 2003.

Bill enjoyed being a ham radio operator, woodworking and restoring antique sewing machines.

The thing he enjoyed most was traveling to see his children and grandchildren when his health permitted and when they came to visit.

He was preceded in death by his father, step father, mother and brother, Robert.

Bill is survived his wife, Joan, Ozark, MO; sons, James (Shelene) Little Falls, MN, Michael, Branson, MO, Donald, Gilby, ND; and daughter, Susan Cowan, Dutton, Ontario, Canada. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his family and his three fur babies, Grace, Squeak and Winnie. He is now in heaven with his beloved fur baby, Heidi.

No services are planned at this time. The family will gather in Grand Forks, North Dakota for a time of remembrance at a later date.