Norma Plank StevensonNorma Plank Stevenson, age 96, and a resident of Grace Village Retirement Community in Winona Lake, passed away on May 19, 2022.
Born in Howard County, on Jan. 17, 1926, she was the daughter of David Ross and Gladys Felton Barber.
She graduated from Ervin Township High School in 1944. After graduation, she attended Ball State Teacher's College, majoring in music and business. She married Edwin L. Plank on Jan. 12, 1946, at Young America Baptist Church in Young America. They were married for 62 years.
She completed her degree at IU Kokomo in 1974 and became a music and activity therapist at Howard Community Mental Health Center for 17 years.
Norma was musically gifted and played piano on the radio for several weekly programs and taught lessons at an early age. She was classically trained and able to play by ear. Her musical talent was widely used in Kokomo as an accompanist, and playing for the Betty Hayes School of Dance recitals, Tri Kappa Follies, Hullabaloos and Civic Theatre while continuing to teach piano lessons at home.
Norma retired to Lakeland, Fla., where she lived for 26 years leading an extremely active life. She enjoyed playing tennis and bridge and played piano for her church and the Lakeland Symphony. She performed with several dance bands and led singalongs as well.
Norma's faith started at an early age and continued as she taught Sunday School for over 25 years and sang in the church choir. She was a member of First Christian Church, Kokomo and First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland, Fla.
Norma had a passion for life and people! Her hobbies included creative scrapbooking, photography and traveling the United States and overseas. In addition, she loved genealogy and co-authored a book about the Barber family history.
Norma still felt her greatest joy and sense of accomplishment was being a wife and mother of four children.
Norma is survived by her husband of four years, David Stevenson; children: Edwin (Polly) Plank, of Argyle, Texas; Julie (Mike) Martin, of Warsaw; and David (Kerin) Plank, of Greensboro, N.C.; 13 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Norma is preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Edwin Plank; companion, Don Mohler; and daughter, Jan Hall, of Virginia Beach, Va.
Services will be Wednesday May 25 at noon at Ellers Mortuary, 3400 S. Webster St., Kokomo, with visitation from 10 a.m. until time of service. Burial will follow at Center Cemetery in Galveston. Pastor Jeff Evans will officiate.
Contributions may be made on Norma’s behalf to The Salvation Army, 1357 W. 86th St., Indianapolis, IN 46260; or Grace Village Chapel Music Program, 337 Grace Village Drive, Winona Lake, IN 46590.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ellersmortuarywebster.com for the Plank family.
