William Imon "Bill" Norwood

William Imon Norwood passed away in Albuquerque Saturday, January 9, 2016 at age 99. He was born on a small farm to John and Bertie Norwood in Ozan, Arkansas on October 9, 1916. Known by his middle name, "Imon," early in life, he answered to "Bill" in his latter years (his wife always called him "Imon"). His schooling began in a one-room schoolhouse in Ozan. Through hard work and a love of knowledge, by 1938, he had graduated from Henderson State Teachers College of Arkadelphia, Arkansas having majored in chemistry. That same year he married the love of his life, Pearl Laura Christian Norwood. In his first job after graduating from college, he taught chemistry, physics, and biology at Stephens High School of Stephens, Arkansas until 1942. Beginning March 1942, he worked for the U.S. Government Ordnance Department in Little Rock, Arkansas that was involved in manufacturing fuses, boosters, initiators, and other munitions supporting the war effort. Bill entered the Army in January 1945. On completion of basic training he was transferred to Los Alamos, New Mexico under the direction of J. Robert Oppenheimer and General Leslie Groves to contribute to the atomic bomb effort of the clandestine Manhattan District Project. Following honorable discharge from the Army in March of 1946 he was recruited to become a staff member of the Los Alamos National Laboratory. After considerable thought and prayer for guidance, he accepted. The rest of his working life was devoted to LANL until his retirement in 1979. He raised his two sons, William I. Norwood, Jr. and J. Michael Norwood in Los Alamos. As a devout Christian, Bill became a founding member of the Los Alamos Methodist Church and, after moving to Albuquerque in 1989, he joined St. Stephens United Methodist Church where he actively engaged in many leadership roles as well as social and charitable activities. In all his busy life he was always first to volunteer and he loved building relationships with fellow travelers in life. True to his character, he was a dedicated and affectionate caregiver to his wife Pearl until her death in 2007.
Bill is survived by his son Dr. William I. Norwood Jr., his wife JoDee, and by his son J. Michael Norwood and his wife Vera. He leaves four grandchildren: Toye Haddock, William I. Norwood III, Dr. Agatha Norwood, and Jonathan Norwood. There are ten great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. He lived at La Vida Llena for the past several years and the family wishes to thank the staff there for the excellent care and comfort they provided him until he passed away.
Services will be held in Albuquerque on Monday, January 18, 2016, 11:00 a.m., at FRENCH - Wyoming. Private interment will take place at Sunset Memorial Park. Bill and his family request that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St. Stephens United Methodist Church.



FRENCH - Wyoming
7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE
(505) 823-9400