Norma Gosnell 1933-2023
Norma Louise (“Lee”) Gosnell, 90, of Upper Arlington, passed
away in hospice Sunday, July 16, 2023, after a long illness and a short one. She
was preceded in death by her parents, Roger and Edna Hall, her husband, William
(“Bill”) Gosnell, and her brother, Donald (“Bo”) Hall, as well as in-laws Bill
Pinkerton, Mariana Gosnell and Margaret Rudy.
Lee is survived by her son, Scott Gosnell, sister, Irma
Pinkerton and brothers Bill (Gayle) and Jack (Sophie) Hall. She was a devoted aunt
to her nephews and nieces: Kelly (Pat), Karen (Mike), Steve (Lannie), Kathy,
Danielle (Chad) and Kim (Charles); Doug (Debbie), Steve (Linda), and Kathy (Phil);
and great-aunt to her many grand nephews and nieces. She was also a kind
interim mom to all those, younger and older, who were in need of it.
Lee was a 1952 graduate of Linden-McKinley High School. After
graduation, she worked for the State of Ohio before opening her own business,
the Lee Hall School of Dance, where she taught ballet, tap and jazz.
Lee met her husband Bill when both became members of the
recently opened Swim and Racquet Tennis Club; they would go on to become club
champions in mixed doubles, to remain lifelong partners in tennis and in life, to
celebrate the birth of their son, Scott, and to celebrate their fiftieth
wedding anniversary. She enjoyed working in her garden, which received an award
from the City of Upper Arlington, and particularly loved the daylilies, irises,
roses and hostas which Bill gave her at every anniversary.
She believed that one day was too short for most holidays and
would celebrate birthdays for a week, Halloween and the Fourth of July for five
days apiece, and Christmas for as long as possible on either side of Christmas
Day itself. She liked to eat dessert last and open her Christmas presents last,
to her son’s great annoyance, because she preferred the pleasure of watching
other people’s joy. She was tremendously humble and would rather have been the
source of attention rather than its object; that extended to her funeral, where
being the center of attention seemed like the worst thing about it, even more
so than the dying part.
She was a fifty-seven-year member of First Community Church
in Marble Cliff, where the memorial service will be held on August 4th,
2023 at 1PM in Burkhardt Chapel. We miss
her very much.
In lieu
of sending flowers, please plant a flower or tree in your own garden, play a
set of tennis, dance, or be kind to a nearby child in memory of her.
