Robert O. Norquest, age 80, of Draketown Road, Bloomsburg, departed from his loving family on November 3 at Bloomsburg Hospital where he had been admitted on Saturday. He had been in ill health for three years. Robert was born January 22, 1928 in the upper end of Shickshinny Valley of Columbia County, the son of the late Edward, Sr. and Ina B. (Robbins) Norquest. He was a Bloomsburg High School graduate and attended the former Bloomsburg State College for two years. He entered the U.S. Navy in January 1946 and served seventeen months on the island of Guam as a Naval Sea-Bee. He was honorably discharged in December, 1947.Robert worked for Bloomsburg Mills and traveled with the U.S. Textile Machine Co. out of Scranton. He was last employed at TRW, Danville, where he retired in 1992. He was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Berwick, where he served as a Trustee for many years. He was a member of American Legion Post 273, Bloomsburg, was a life member of the Orangeville Sportsmen Club. He enjoyed bee keeping and fishing.Robert was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Russel, Edward, Clair, Raymond, Amelia, Mable, Myrtle, Beatrice, Mary and Kathryn.
Survivors include his wife of fifty-nine years: Erma J. (Markle) Norquest; daughters Kay; Joan, wife of Frank Drumm and Mary Jane, wife of John Neyhard, all of the Bloomsburg area; two sons: Robert II and his wife, Ginny of Boyertown and Dwight and his wife, Betty, Bloomsburg; five granddaughters: Sandra Greene, Sharon Norquest, Jillian Norquest, Lori Neyhard and Elizabeth Drumm; five grandsons: Rob Norquest, Benjamin Norquest, John Neyhard, Lyle Norquest and Mark Drumm; two great-granddaughters: Riley Norquest and Ava Zanoline; a brother: Herman Norquest, Millville and a sister: Gail Shultz and her husband, Robert, Bloomsburg.Funeral services will be Thursday, at 10 A.M. from St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 1000 Orange Street, Berwick, with his pastor, Rev. Peter Raser officiating. Friends will be received Wednesday from 6 to 8 P.M. at the Allen Funeral Home, 745 Market at Eighth St., Bloomsburg and Thursday from 9:30 A.M. until time of service. Burial will be in Elan Memorial Park. The family will provide flowers. Memorial contributions in his memory are suggested to St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 1000 Orange St., Berwick, PA 18603.