Carolyn Norton Respess of Huntsville, devoted wife and mother, passed away Monday. She was born in Birmingham, Alabama to Henry and Bertha Norton, who preceded her in death. Carolyn met and married Lt. Col. Bryan Respess and moved with him to his various duty stations in North Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma, and Germany.
Carolyn loved being an Army wife, working as a substitute teacher at Grissom High School for twenty plus years, and being part of her community and church. She was an instant friend to all she met and was a faithful writer of notes and cards which encouraged many.
Mrs. Respess was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Bryan Respess. Survivors include her three daughters, Suzanne, of Birmingham, AL, Michelle and Nanette, both of Huntsville, AL; brothers-in-law, Retired Colonel Mervin L. Norton of Springfield, VA, and Donald R. Norton of Birmingham, AL; and nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A celebration of Carolyn’s life will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday at Southwood Presbyterian Church with Rev. Dr. Mike Honeycutt and Rev. Will Spink officiating. Visitation will immediately follow at the church. Burial will be at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Children’s Hospital of Alabama (1600 7th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35233), Southwood Presbyterian Church, (1000 Carl T. Jones Drive, Huntsville, AL 35802) or Hospice Family Care (3304 Westmill Drive, Huntsville, AL 35805).
