Harold William Norris Jr

Harold William Norris, Jr., 84, of Jacksonville, North Carolina, was called home to be with the Lord on February 9th, 2024. He was married to Ruth Jean Hawkins for 43 years until she was called home on May 3rd, 2003. We are grateful and at peace that they have been reunited in heaven.
Harold was born on August 27th, 1939 and grew up in Green Cove Springs, Florida and was one of ten children. He joined the United States Marine Corps in 1957 and served at Camp Lejeune. While there, he met a beautiful Marine named Ruth Jean Hawkins, and after their marriage, they settled in Jacksonville, NC. He had multiple jobs, such as Onslow County Tax Collector and a firefighter at Camp Lejeune, as well as serving as General Foreman at the Traffic Management Office on base. Harold and Ruth retired on the same day after 30 years of Civil service. After retirement, Harold worked at Jones Funeral Home for over 20 years with his "framily," the Joneses, and all of his other dear friends who worked there. This was the job he loved the most.
Harold was always a constant presence and support to his three children, Drake, Keith and Tammy. They were so honored and privileged to have been able to care for and serve him for the last three years. They will be forever blessed by this experience and the time they had with their dad and will miss his sarcastic wit, laugh, twinkly blue eyes, his playful and joyful spirit, and the love he generously poured into them and everyone else he knew. He leaves such a legacy of faith in Jesus and an example of being authentic and genuine with all who came into his life.
He loved his grandchildren, Peter, Noelle and Hendrick so much and enjoyed every minute he could spend with them. He served faithfully at First Baptist Church for many years as deacon and loved camping, cooking, spending time with his friends and neighbors, and his favorite four-legged companion, Bandit. Many never knew he was also the Onslow County Ping Pong Champion years ago and was an extremely gifted pool player.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Elizabeth Norris, his wife, Ruth, and his sisters, Margaret Norris, Sandy McCann and Shirley Mohr, and his brother, William Norris. He is survived by his children, Harold Drake Norris, William Keith Norris (Catherine), Tammy Norris Miller (Stuart), his grandchildren, Peter O'Dell Miller, Noelle Ruth Miller and William Hendrick Norris, his sisters, Patricia Wingate, Marian Rice and Linda Welch, his brothers, Donald Norris and Gary Norris, and may beloved nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his dear sister-in-law, Marie Stewart of Danville, Virginia, her children, Peggy Stewart Ingram (Tom) and Mitchell Dale Stewart (Debbie), and all of their precious children and grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Friday, February 16, 2024 at 11 a.m. at Jones Funeral Home Chapel with a graveside ceremony following at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery at 12 p.m. The family will receive friends on Thursday, February 15, 2024 from 6-8 p.m. at Jones Funeral Home.