Norma Walz

Mrs. Norma June Smith Walz, 80, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Jefferson City, Missouri, passed away Friday, July 10, 2015, in Cape Girardeau.

Norma was born at the home of her parents in Mexico, Missouri, on Sept. 10, 1934. She was the last of 12 children born to Enos and Lillian Gillmore Smith.

She was a member of the 1952 graduating class at Jefferson City High School and was actively involved with the alumnae group her entire life. Norma always said her years at JCHS were four of the best of her life. She enjoyed all of her classmates and she formed lifelong friendships.

On Jan. 16 1965, she married the love of her life, Don F. Walz at Faith Lutheran Church in Jefferson City. He preceded her in death Sept. 17, 2010.

Norma began her professional career working for the Missouri Highway Department in 1953 before moving to Dallas, where she was employed as a bookkeeper for Neiman Marcus. She attended Northwestern University through correspondence to obtain her training as an insurance underwriter in the late 1950s. She worked for several life insurance companies, including Perpetual National Life Insurance, and was one of their first female underwriters.

Norma took a hiatus from her professional career to be a full-time homemaker and was active in her children's school and church organizations when they were younger. She enjoyed working for several years with the Girl and Boy Scouts and as PTA president and home-room mother.

Once her children were older, she returned to work at Jefferson City High School in 1979 and worked in budget and control, a job she truly enjoyed. She also worked part time at Milo H. Walz Inc. for many years. In 1985, she officially retired to travel with her husband, Don, and enjoy her grandchildren.

Norma enjoyed skiing, a sport she did not experience until she was in her 40s. She loved going to Colorado every year with her husband and friends. An avid reader, she loved studying Russian history.

Norma is survived by her children, Rick Thrash and his wife, Amy, of Jefferson City, Denise Willroth and her husband, Mark, of Jefferson City, Donna Ward and her husband, Todd, of Jackson and Steve Walz and his wife, Shelley, of Tampa, Florida; her six beloved grandchildren, Missy Holmes and her husband, Lee, and their children Rylee and Reese, Anna Keenan and her husband, Jonathan, and their son Chandler, Tommy Thrash, Charley Thrash, Henry Walz and Lily Ward. She always described her grandchildren as one of her greatest joys and blessings. She also is survived by her sister, Betty Chevez of Tucson, Arizona; brother, Dee Smith of Springfield, Missouri; "sister" and dear friend, Caroline Jones; sisters-in-law, Claudia Walz, Janet Walz Urzi, Ruth Walz Downey and Marinell Walz; brother-in-law, James Walz; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Don; and eight siblings.

A celebration of life service will be at 6 p.m. Monday at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau, with the Rev. Mark Martin officiating.

Visitation will be held at Freeman Mortuary in Jefferson City from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Faith Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Tony Alter and the Rev. Mark Martin officiating. Graveside services and interment will be at the Walz Family Plot at Riverview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Wounded Warrior Project, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the Alzheimer's Association or the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Association.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Ford and Sons Funeral Home and Freeman Mortuary.

Online condolences may be shared at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com or freemanmortuary.com.