Norman Joy Greene

Norman Joy Greene, Jr., of Bryn Mawr, formerly of Bradenton, Florida, aged 98 years, went to be with his Lord on April 5, 2024 at Beaumont of Bryn Mawr in peace with his wife, Joan, his daughter, Anne, and his grandson, Max, by his side. Norman was born on December 5, 1925 at the Bryn Mawr Hospital, when it was new, to the late Norman Joy and Marion Louise (Marvin) Greene and was raised at “Rainbow Lodge” in Berwyn, a home built by his parents whose friends accused them of ‘pioneering.’ Norman married Joan (Knipe), his wife, on September 11, 1954 and they celebrated 69 years together.

Norman attended the Haverford School, Tredyffrin schools, and Avon Olds Farm School in Avon, Connecticut, where he remembered that the headmistress was a survivor of the Titanic. He was graduated from Avon Olds Farm in 1943. His education was interrupted while he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps and trained as a cadet in San Antonio, Texas. After WWII, he attended and was graduated from Bucknell University on the GI Bill, in the class of 1949. He and Joan made their first home in Paoli, where he had a sporting goods store; as their family grew, they built a home in Malvern. They raised 5 children. He grew up spending summers at Avalon, was a Life Guard when young, and later he and his wife continued to have a home there until he took an interest in boating. After moving to Bradenton, Florida, his interest returned to flying. Both he and Joan were multi-engine instrument rated pilots. They spent 28 years in Florida and built a summer home on the side of a mountain, held up by railroad ties, in Franklin, NC for many years.

Norman was a Life Member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Sons of the American Revolution; he especially enjoyed participating with his Sara-Mana Chapter, SAR, in Florida. He was a member of the Jamestowne Society. He was also a fraternal member of Sigma Chi. Norman was a member of the Church of the Redeemer and a former member of the First Presbyterian Church of Bradenton and Church of the Good Samaritan of Paoli. He attended Bryn Mawr Presbyterian as a child. Norman and Joan were former members of Waynesborough Country Club in Paoli, Bradenton Yacht Club, River Wilderness Club in Parrish, FL, Mill Creek in Franklin, NC, and Hershey's Mill in West Chester.

Norman enjoyed hunting, collecting guns and was a life member of the National Rifle Association. Norman had even sold perhaps five of his precious guns in order to purchase a “decent ring” for his engagement to Joan. His wedding present to his wife was a Browning rifle and he taught his family to shoot as they came of age. He went on numerous hunting trips and his special trophies hung on the walls of some of his homes. He and Joan enjoyed playing golf in all the places they lived. Since moving to Beaumont his sight was responsible for ending his favorite pastime of shooting with his friends, but particularly enjoyed with his children and grandchildren, as well as putting a voluntary end to his driving. He also enjoyed reading, studying the Bible, watching the news, football and golf on TV.

In addition to Norman’s devoted wife, Joan, he is survived by three sons, Norman Joy, III “Jay" (Wende), Herbert Alanson, II, “Lance," and Adam Thomas (Rachel), a daughter, Anne Vickers (David) Hain, 9 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, Martha Lewis. He was predeceased by a brother, Warren, a daughter, Sharon Knipe Greene, and a granddaughter, Annie Gladys Hain.

Memorial services for Norman will be held at 1:00 PM Monday, April 22, 2024 at Church of the Redeemer, 230 Pennswood Road, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010. Interment West Laurel Hill Cemetery will be private. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Norman’s memory to the National Rifle Association or Sons of the American Revolution - https://www.sar.org/