Norma Jean Galvin

Mrs. Norma Jean Galvin, 84, passed away Saturday, March 12, 2011 in Bartlesville after suffering a serious stroke the previous Thursday. Born Norma Jean Allen in Sasakwa, Oklahoma to Dainty and Richard Allen on April 8, 1926, Norma spent her early childhood in Sasakwa eventually moving to Edmond, Oklahoma where she finished high school and attended Central State Teacher College for 3 years. Norma met and married Edward Galvin in early 1946. From February, 1947 through March, 1955 the family grew to five kids while Ed worked on a seismograph crew for Standard Oil. Ed’s work took the family to Texas, Louisiana, and back to Oklahoma. In 1958 Norma resumed her studies at Central State College completing her Bachelor’s degree and earning a teaching certificate. Norma began teaching in the Midwest City School District in 1960. Norma taught special needs children for her entire career retiring in 1988. Norma’s education continued over the years she taught school, with her eventually earning a Master’s degree in Education. After retirement, Norma studied painting for a while producing paintings that were cherished by family members. During her life Norma was an avid reader and spent a large portion of her day enjoying the intrigue of a good mystery. A picture of Norma from a recent hospital stay has a book on a table next to her bed. Norma believed education was an important accomplishment in life and was proud of the number and breadth of degrees held by her children and grandchildren. Along with her work in education, her family members hold degrees in architecture, business, engineering, English literature, forestry, mathematics, computer science, and nursing. Norma is survived by four children, Mark Galvin and his wife Jennifer of Bartlesville, Lawrence Galvin and his wife Kimberly of Alice Springs, Australia, Mary Kincaid and her husband Joseph J. of Bartlesville and Katy Rowland and her husband Roy-Dan of Commerce City, Colorado, one sister, Mary Louise Allen of Rockport, Texas, six grandchildren, Jessica J. Kincaid, James Stephen Kincaid, Kelly Thomas, Amber Walker, Liberty Galvin and Egan Galvin and one great grandchild, Aislinn Kincaid Nolan. The family requests memorial donations in Mrs. Galvin’s memory to the Bartlesville Public School Foundation, c/o Education Service Center, ATTN: Sherri Lynn, 1100 S.W. Jennings, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, 74003 or to the Lydia Patterson Student Scholarship Fund, First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1136, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, 74005. Memorial services for Mrs. Galvin will be held at 4 P.M. on Friday, April 8, 2011 in the Stumpff Funeral Home Chapel. Private interment was in the White Rose Cemetery. PDF Printable Version

Norma Jean Galvin

April 8, 1926 - March 12, 2011