Frank Douglas Norwood Jr.

Frank Douglas Norwood, Jr. of Midland, Texas, passed from this earthy world to the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, February 9, 2021. His firm belief in God gave him strength throughout his life and ultimately gave him peace. A service celebrating his life will begin at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, February 17 in the chapel at First Baptist Church of Midland. Frank was born November 15, 1927 in El Paso, Texas to Frank Douglas Norwood and Matilda Margaret McCarthy Norwood and baptized on Christmas Day in 1927. He graduated from El Paso High School in 1944 at the age of 16. Too young for the armed forces, he went to work as a night clerk for the El Paso office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) where he worked with legendary lawman D. A. "Jelly" Bryce, who was Special Agent in Charge at the time and had the opportunity to personally witness his remarkable marksmanship skills. In 1946, when he turned 18, Frank volunteered for the U.S. Army and served in the Occupational Forces in South Korea after hostilities ceased in Japan. He resumed his employment with the FBI upon his return and later resigned his position to attend college, graduating from Texas Western University, (now UTEP) with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 1950. He entered the life insurance business in El Paso with New York Life and in 1955 moved to Midland, Texas to open the city's first New York Life office. It was there that he met the love of his life, Judith Anne Gaines who had recently moved to Midland from Connecticut. They were married November 5, 1955 and over the next 65 years of marriage they had five children, ten grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. In 1960, he accepted a position with Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company and remained in this position until 1985 when he launched his own agency, Norwood Insurance Agency, Inc. His agency thrived for more than thirty years with many loyal, multi-decade clients who trusted his judgement and respected his integrity when making health and life insurance decisions. Professionally, he was a member of the National Association of Life Underwriters, a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) as awarded by the American College of Life Underwriters, and a Lifetime Member of the Million Dollar Round Table. Over the years he was active in numerous local organizations including the Midland Community Theatre Orchestra where he played the violin and the City of Midland Swim Team where he volunteered for many years to grow the program and support the athletic interests of his children. He served on the boards of Westminster Presbyterian Church and Midland Lutheran Church and his strong faith was evident in the way he lived his life with gratitude and a true servant's heart. Frank enjoyed reading history, especially texts on World War II and Texas, and traveling with his wife Judy. He especially enjoyed trips with his grandchildren which included multiple motorhome trips to Alaska, and two very special trips to Israel with his granddaughter, Stephanie and South Korea with his grandson, Tommy. He is survived by his wife, Judy Norwood, his children, Julie Norwood Brown and her husband Bill of Midland, Stephen Douglas Norwood, Jeffrey Alan Norwood and his wife Gabrielle of Austin and John Russell Norwood and his wife D'Ann of Midland. He is also survived by ten grandchildren: Michael William Brown of Denver, CO, Stephanie Anne Bocek and her husband John of Hamilton, VA, Thomas Norwood Brown and his wife Alexis of San Diego, CA, LCDR Russell Alan Brown and his wife Nicole of Virginia Beach, VA, Jeffrey Bennett Brown of Denver, CO, William Thomas Norwood of Houston, Andrew John Norwood and Philip James Norwood of Midland and Forrest Alan Norwood and Meredith Claire Norwood of Austin. He is also survived by seven great grandchildren: Larson and Parker Brown, John Bocek, Jr., Elizabeth and Anne Marie Brown and Joanna and Gideon Brown. He is also survived by his niece, Donna Fairchild and her husband George of Willis TX, and his nephew, Darryl Cordero of Kirkland, WA. Frank was especially grateful for the loving care he received from Amy Alvarado, Mirella Chavez, and Angela Barela for the last several years of his life as well as Dr. P.K. Patel and his staff and Dr. Richard Oeckler of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN for their outstanding medical care. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Margaret Cordero, his loving son, Thomas William "Tommy" Norwood and his beloved Great Pyrenees dog, Trooper. Pallbearers will be his grandchildren, Michael Brown, Tommy Brown, Russell Brown, Jeffrey Brown, William Norwood, Andrew Norwood, Philip Norwood, and Forrest Norwood. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Tommy Norwood Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Permian Basin Area Foundation www.pbaf.org Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com