Norma Munger

ITHACA, N.Y.— Norma (Gibson) Munger, 83, of Ithaca died Saturday, Dec. 25, 2004, after a brief hospitalization.

Born July 4, 1921 in Melrose, Mass., she was the daughter of Lester Earl and Mary (Harris) Gibson. She was a member of the Greenfield (Mass.) High School, Class of 1939. She graduated in 1943 from the University of Massachusetts, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. After graduate studies at Case Western Reserve University, she worked for the Girl Scouts, spending a few years in Woonsocket, R.I. before moving to Ithaca. Here she met Henry M. Munger, whom she was married to on Dec. 16, 1950.

During her husband's years as head of the Department of Vegetable Crops at Cornell University, Norma provided hospitality to many foreign graduate students and visitors, which was reciprocated during the Mungers' trips abroad.

She loved living in Egypt and the Philippines, as well as visiting many other countries. She was sustained by her memories of the people she had met, ancient sites and snorkeling, and was always dreaming of the next trip.

In Ithaca, she was a Girl Scout leader, a deacon at the First Presbyterian Church and a member of various civic organizations. She was friendly, straight-forward and always willing to help out. She was instrumental in the founding of Kendal at Ithaca, to which she and her husband moved in 1996.

Norma is survived by her husband, Henry, and daughters, Martha G. Mowry and her husband Donald of Eau Claire, WI and Nancy A. of Eastham, MA. She also leaves her grandchildren, Evan and Glenna Mowry, as well as nine nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her sister, Ruth Nelson of Orleans, MA.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, 2005 at Kendal at Ithaca.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Norma's memory may be made to the University of Massachusetts Annual Fund, Records and Gifts Processing, Memorial Hall, 134 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003-9270.

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Source:  Greenfield, Mass. Recorder