Norm Crampton

On Thursday, January 25, 2024, Norman Crampton passed away peacefully at the age of 85. Norm, as he was more fondly known, was born on October 3, 1938, in Salford, England, to parents Rena and Thomas Crampton.
Norm attended the Salford Grammar School, as was customary in Britain at the time, for those wanting advanced education before college. There he solidified a life-long group of "lads" who held a legacy of friendship that would transcend time, geography and shifting of life's circumstances.
Norm married Mary Griffiths, from Aberystwyth, Wales, in 1958 and soon after joined the Royal Air Force (RAF). Originally Norm wanted to be a pilot, but soon discovered his eyesight was color deficient. Never mind, he would have said, and turned his attention to his natural proclivities where his meticulous, curious, and process-oriented mind offered him a glimpse into engineering for the first time as an airframe fitter.
While in the RAF, Norm and Mary where stationed in various locations where their children Alan (England), Steven (Ireland) and Susan (Germany) were born. After serving for "seven years, 81 days and an early breakfast", Norm bought himself out of the RAF. His father had become seriously ill and the family returned to England to help Rena care for him until he died.
Rena soon immigrated to the United States to live with her daughter, Edna, who'd married and started a family years earlier with Jack Zane. Through the kindness and support of Jack and Edna, Norm would travel to the United States in 1967 to find employment and secure housing so his family could join him in Philadelphia six months later.
Norm took a job at Boeing and contributed to the operating manual for the Chinook Helicopter, while he and his family settled in New Castle, Delaware. Norm would eventually move to a company called ILC and make significant contributions to the operating manual for the NASA space suits that were used during the various Apollo missions.
Years later, Norm would take his kind, congenial, and accommodating nature into the real estate market where he worked for Tom Livizos and Patterson Schwartz. It was around this time that Norm and Mary separated, and he took up many new adventures: taking long bicycle rides, exploring his love of live music, camping and sailing, traveling to the Shenandoah Mountains, until he landed at ILC again.
While at ILC, Norm met Catherine (McNatt) and it was clear they came together to share these new adventures. They would eventually move to Titusville, Florida, work for Boeing-Norm as a Safety and Reliability Engineer-and marry in May of 1990. It was in Florida that Norm settled into a routine of watching his beloved Manchester United Football Club (soccer) on TV. He spent most Saturday mornings shouting for his team, either on the sofa or in a pub packed with other football supporters.
Norm and Catherine returned to Delaware in 2019 to be closer to family. Throughout all the adventures and changes in geography, Norm was always surrounded by those who valued his kindness, empathetic nature, and keen sense of humor, whether that happened on the golf course or sitting around a dinner table. And if you knew Norm, you understood he enjoyed the ceremony and circumstance of a good dinner: the company of those he loved, interesting food, excellent wine, an abiding (aka begging) dog at his feet, and the calm ambiance of jazz that carried him into the evening as he retired with a good glass of scotch.
Norm is survived by his loving wife, Catherine, of thirty-three years. He is also survived by his first wife Mary Crampton, children Alan Crampton (Maureen), Steven Crampton (Christy), and Susan Crampton Davis (Peter) and step-children Laura McNatt and Greg McNatt (Christina). In addition, he is survived by many grandchildren and a growing brood of great-grandchildren, many who had the privilege of getting to know him over the last few years.
Norm's celebration of life will be held on March 3, 2024, at the North Bayberry Lake House (210 N. Bayberry Pkwy, Middletown, DE 19709), from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. In lieu of gifts or contributions, please bring your favorite story about Norm as we raise a glass in his honor.