Obituary of Rev. William Robert Norvel

Funeral Services for Rev. William Robert “Bob” Norvel of Eolia, MO will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at the Annada Christian Community Church. Rev. Kris Hagemeier, pastor of the Elsberry First Christian Church, will officiate. Full Military Honors will immediately follow. Bob was born February 7, 1939 to William “Bill” and Ruth Holcomb Norvel. He passed away Wednesday evening, January 13, 2021 at his home in Eolia, MO at the age of 81 years, 11 months and 6 days. Bob grew up in the New Hope area, where he attended the rural schools before attending the Elsberry School district, where he graduated with the Class of 1957. Bob went on to serve in the United States Air Force for the next 20 years. He was an airborne radar tech, instructor and munitions specialist. Bob served in the Phillipines, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, Illinois, Hawaii, Mississippi, Alabama, New Jersey and Colorado until his retirement in 1978. He then began farming with his brother, John. In 1988, Bob became the Pastor of Annada Christian Community Church. Bob was united in marriage on March 23, 1957 in Elsberry, MO to Donna Lee Tillotson. They were married for 63 years. Bob and Donna adopted two sons, Robert Timothy and Corey Michael Norvel. They were also foster parents to fifteen children. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, William E. and Goldie Norvel; his in-laws, George and Bernice Tillotson; his sons: Robert and Corey Norvel; his baby brother, James; and his god-daughter’s son, Conner Jung. Survivors include his beloved wife, Donna Norvel of Eolia; his brother, John Norvel and his wife, Barbara, of Elsberry; his sister, Linda Spies and her husband, Neal, of Augusta, KS; his brothers-in-law: Wayne Tillotson and his wife, Marilyn, of Elsberry and Ezra Tillotson and his wife, Rose, of Troy, MO; six grandchildren: Tri Bead and Kelsey Tissay of Whiteriver, AZ, John Stanley of Chicago, IL, Lynn Stanley of Troy, David Stanley of Poplar Bluff, MO and Jack Falwell; and four great-grandchildren. Bob also leaves his God-daughter, Dianna Johnson of Aurora, KY; and many, many friends. Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Monday, January 25, 2021 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to the Annada Christian Community Church in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 S. 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343.