Joseph Glenn Norris

Waynesville, Joseph Glenn Norris, 97, passed away on Wednesday, May 31, 2023,  at CarePartners Solace Center.        

A native of Haywood County, he was the son of the late Thomas Marion and Etta Kuykendall Norris.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Hatherlee Norris who died in 2018; six sisters, Lena Blaylock, Edith Gragg, Virginia Michael, Rosa Hall, Carrie Martin, and Ethel Heatherly; three brothers, William "Bill", Roy, and Ned Norris.  Glenn served in the United States Army during WWII as a sergeant in the Philippines from 1944-1946 with the Big Red One Division where he received the Purple Heart.  He was employed by Reinertson Farms as a manager.  Glenn was one of the founders and first president of the Haywood Trail Riders and at one time was the Wagon Master for the Wagon Train.  He enjoyed fishing at Lake Chatuge and hunting with his two sons.  Glenn was a member of Calvary Road Baptist Church, and frequently attended Bethel Baptist Church and Berea Baptist Church.      

Glenn is survived by his daughters, Shirley Dean (Ronnie), and Judy Stamey (Jerry); two sons, David (Barbara) and Jim Norris (Linda); 12 grandchildren, Tammerah Garren, Jennifer Rathbone, Amie Hall, Wendy Henson, Tonya Finney, Bryan O’Neil, Kyle Norris, Jennifer Norris, Ken Norris, Shane Praytor, Trent Praytor, and Carla Moore; 16 great-grandchildren; and 7 great-great grands. 

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 3, 2023 in the Waynesville chapel of Wells Funeral Home, with the Reverend Dr. J. D. Grant and Reverend Dr. Roy Kilby officiating.  Burial will follow at New Cruso Cemetery with Military Honors.  The family will receive friends from 12:30 pm until service time at the funeral home.   

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels, 157 Paragon Parkway, Suite 300, Clyde, NC  28721 or Gideon International, P.O. Box 634, Waynesville, NC  28786.

The care of Mr. Norris has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville and an online memorial register is available at "Obituaries" at www.wellsfuneralhome.com.