Norvin James Dufrene

DUFRENE Norvin James Dufrene, 72, a 13-year resident of Victoria, TX, passed away July 7, 2012. He was born in New Orleans, LA, on March 12, 1940, to the late Harry Dufrene and Bernice Vicknair Dufrene, and resided in Des Allemonds, LA, before moving to Los Fresnos, TX, in 1976. Norvin was proud of his service to our country in the U.S. Army from 1957 through 1960. He was employed for 18 years by Union Carbide Corporation, first in the Raft, LA, plant then transferred to the Brownsville, TX, plant in 1976 where he remained until 1983 as their Purchasing Manager. He continued his purchasing career with AOC Welding Supply in Harlingen, TX, in 1988 where he was Vice President and Operations Manager until 1996 when he retired. Norvin was preceded in death by Eloise Dufrene who, together with his father, raised him from a young age, and by his brother, Dennis Dufrene. Norvin is survived by his wife of 33 years, Marilyn Batts Dufrene; daughters, Sharleen Callis of Colorado, Michelle Beneat and husband, Joe of Austin, TX, Peggy Whiting and husband, Brian of Michigan; sons, David Dufrene and wife, Michelle of Minnesota, Travis Dufrene and wife, Lilly of Tennessee, Chris Lowrie and wife, Patrice of New Braunfels, TX, and Chad Lowrie of Victoria, TX: brothers, Kenneth (Kenny) Dufrene and wife, Kyle of Orlando, Florida, Harry Dufrene and wife, Nancy of Marrero, LA; sister, Cheryl Arabie and husband, Wesley of Gretna, LA. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and many devoted friends in both Louisiana and Texas. Norvin will return to his beloved Louisiana to rest in peace on Saturday, July 14, 2012. Memorial services will be held at 2 PM at St. Charles Cemetery in Luling, LA. A Family and Friends Celebration will follow in Marrero, LA. The family would like to thank the staff of the Mission Valley Clinic of Victoria for their loving care and support for Norvin over the years of his illness. Contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, Corpus Christi Office, 500 N. Shoreline, Suite 610, Corpus Christi, TX, 78471, or to Hospice of South Texas, 605 E. Locust Ave., Victoria, TX, 77901. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com