Norman L. Carter, 90, of Marion, passed away at Cedar Creek of Marion at 11:57 pm on Saturday, May 10, 2025, after a long illness. He was born in Sierra Leone, West Africa, on February 9, 1935 to Charles and Elizabeth (Hutchinson) Carter. He married Rowena Clanin on May 4, 1953 and she survives.
Norman was active in football, basketball, and track at Marion High School. After graduating from college with a degree in teaching, he returned to Marion Community Schools to teach, mostly as a fourth-grade teacher. As his family grew, Norman began a second career as a pastor of small Friends churches in the area, growing them until they could support a full-time pastor. He loved both teaching and pastoring and excelled at both, but he especially loved his family.
In retirement, Norman and his wife spent much of their time going to their grandchildren’s sporting events, but they also began bird-watching and identified well over 500 birds, many of which Norman photographed.
Two years ago, Norman and his wife moved to assisted living at Cedar Creek of Marion, where they reconnected with several friends and developed new friendships with the staff and residents. Norman said that he wanted to make sure that everyone there felt loved and cared for.
Norman is survived by his wife of 72 years, Rowena Carter; daughters, Deborah (Steve) Jourdan of Swayzee, Rhonda (Randall) Bargerstock of Ohio, and Donna (Ralph) Overman of Peru; son-in-law, Mark (Kristi) Horner; grandchildren, Laura (Jeffrey) Walls, Matthew (Alissa) Jourdan, David (Drew) Jourdan, Rachelle (Matthew) Wistrand, Ryan (Hyejin) Bargerstock, Ralph Zachary (Stephanie) Overman, Aaron (Chelsea) Overman, Laura (Austin) Presley, Angela Horner, and Megan (Adam) Weaver; and 31 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Elizabeth Carter; brother, Donald Carter; daughter, Denise Horner; and granddaughter, Rebecca Overman.
The family will receive visitors from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral & Cremation Service, North Chapel, 1341 N. Baldwin Ave., Marion, IN.
A funeral service to celebrate Norman’s life with begin at 11:00 am on Friday, May 23, 2025 at the funeral home with his son-in-law, Pastor Randall Bargerstock officiating.
Burial will take place at Grant Memorial Park with Pastor Rob Schwarze of Sycamore Friends Church officiating the committal.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Heart to Honduras, PO Box 4133 Tequesta, FL 33469, Ghana Ministries, 237 Hawthorn St., Birmingham, AL 35242, Gideons International, gideons.org/donate.
Memories may be shared online at www.nswcares.com.
To send flowers to the family of Norman, please visit our floral store.