Norman W. Vogel

Jan. 18, 2008

Norman W. Vogel, Ph.D., 90, of Pleasant Hill, formerly of Washington, PA, passed away Jan. 18, 2008. A native of Brooklyn, NY, he spent his youth in Red Hook, NY. Dr. Vogel was the son of the late Henry and Elise Hoss Vogel. He was a 1940 graduate of the University of Michigan, where he also earned his master's degree in zoology. He later received his Ph.D. from Indiana University in 1956. He was Professor Emeritus of the Department of Biology at Washington and Jefferson College where he taught from 1956-85. In 1986 an honorary Doctorate of Science was bestowed by Washington and Jefferson College.

Dr. Vogel enjoyed teaching and had a life long desire to help others. His travels included a Fulbright Lectureship in physiology at Nangrahar Medical Facility, Jalalabad, Afghanistan, from 1968-69. He was lay director for the Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church 1972-1976 and was assigned to the Asian team and visited India and Nepal in the spring of 1975.

He had been a member of the First United Methodist Church in Washington, PA where he was active in various capacities. After moving to Tennessee in 1994, he was a member of First United Methodists Church of Crossville and then in 2004 joined the Pleasant Hill Community Church.

As an avid woodworker and craftsman, he was a member of Covered Bridge Artisans (West Alexander, PA) and Cumberland Artisans for Creative Expression (Crossville, TN). He enjoyed sharing his craft work with others. He was a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity for many years. He was past treasurer for Pleasant Hill Children's Enrichment Center. For Uplands Retirement Community he was on the long range planning committee. He was able to remain very active in his crafts and activities until quite recently.

Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Margaret Wahl Vogel; children, Carl (Alice Howell) Vogel of Lexington, KY, Glenn (Corrinne) Vogel of Washington, PA, Janet (John) Blachek of Loganton, PA, and Mark (Jane) Vogel of Ann Arbor, MI; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

At the request of the deceased there will be no visitation. His final gift was the donation of his body to be used in the training of medical students at Meharry Medical College. A memorial service celebrating his life will be scheduled at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity or Pleasant Hill Children’s Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 166, Pleasant Hill, TN 38578.