John Franklin Norman

John F. Norman  

September 27, 1942 – February 14, 2024

Mr. John Franklin Norman, 81, of Stamps, Arkansas, formerly of Little Rock, Arkansas and Plainwell, Michigan, passed away peacefully at a local nursing home on the afternoon of Wednesday, February 14, 2024.  Mr. Norman was a beloved son, brother, grandson, dad, granddad, and friend.    

Mr. Norman was born to the late Mr. Rector Norman and the late Mrs. Vila Whyment-Norman on September 27, 1942 in Plainwell, Michigan.  He would spend his formative years in Plainwell, Michigan and graduated from Plainwell High School, Plainwell, Michigan.  He was drafted into the Army shortly after high school and ended up in the Army Signal Corps as a radio operator and communications specialist.  Shortly after graduating from his advanced individual training (AIT) he found himself in Vietnam as an Infantryman where he was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge.  He was proud of his military service and could be heard throughout the nursing home talking about how proud he was and that he would do it all over again if he had to.    

Upon his return from Vietnam, he eventually received an honorable discharge and ended up back in Plainwell, Michigan where he worked and retired from the Plainwell Papermill as a machinist.   He was as well an avid Detroit Tigers baseball fan and loved fishing and bowling.

Mr. Norman was preceded in death by both parents, and  his only sibling, Mr. Charles (Charlie) Norman.  He is survived by one son, John Norman and a daughter, Debbie and her husband Bal Simmons of Alma, Arkansas.  Two grandchildren, Donald McCord, and Sarah Coker.  A host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, his very best fiend Dan Lott and a host of other friends and former co-workers.

Cremation service has been provided by Hamilton-Davis Funeral Home.  His inurnment service will be done at Fort Smith National Cemetery 522 Garland Ave. Fort Smith, Arkansas 72901 with Military Honors.  The date and time of that service will be announced at a later date, and it will be posted on the Hamilton-Davis Funeral Home website.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Franklin Norman, please visit our floral store.