Leonard Raymond Norrell

Leonard Raymond Norrell passed away Sunday, May 10, 2015 at the age of 98. He was born near Grandview, Texas on May 19, 1916 to the late Shad Lee Norrell and Jettie Irene Castor. Leonard was working for the Electric Auto Lite Company, traveling as a Division Manager when he registered for the military draft in Dyersburg, Tennessee. Later, all the names were put in capsules in a glass bowl on President Roosevelt's desk for him to draw out as needed. While visiting the Curtis home in North Little Rock, he heard the radio news that Pearl Harbor had been attacked. The next week he enlisted in Dallas, Texas. He wanted to be a flying cadet but would not get the chance if drafted. He was a private in the United States Army for one day, before being assigned to the United States Army Air Corp, as a flying cadet. The first place he was sent was to San Antonio's Kelly Field, living in "Tent City." From there he went to Hicks Field in Ft. Worth for primary pilot training on the PT 19A Fairchild Aircraft. He soloed at 10 hours and became a West Point Flying Cadet in the Army Air Corp. After this, he was sent to Ellington Field in Houston, Texas for reassignment in a Navigational School Class 43-2. He was given a furlough for a few days and married Polly Curtis in Little Rock. After graduating from Navigational School, he became an instructor at Selman Field in Monroe, Louisiana. As a 2nd Lieutenant, his assignment was to help start a new navigation school for aviation cadets. For 2½ years he taught classes of 25 students each for a 10-week course. He also flew with them on mission assignments. As instructor and co-pilot in AT7 Twin-Engine Beechcraft airplanes, acquiring 3300 hours of day and night celestial flights. His duties included writing operational manuals and directing flight missions. Following other base tours, he was assigned to Barksdale Air Force Base in Shreveport, Louisiana for heavy bombardment training. He was the navigator for the first B-29 "Superfortress" 10-man crew formed at Barksdale. In 1946 his crew was ordered to Guam to begin final bombardment of Japan. Leonard eventually made the rank of Captain before being Honorably discharged from the Air Force. Then President Truman gave the order to drop the atomic bomb. After the war, Leonard and family moved to Ft. Worth, Texas where he worked as a manufacturer's agent travelling throughout the Southwest U.S. Later, they returned to North Little Rock where Leonard and Polly together owned and operated Jacksonville Auto Parts. The business was successful due to Leonard's exceptional salesmanship and outgoing personality. He was well-liked by both customers and employees. During his lifetime, Leonard was very active socially, as well as in Park Hill Baptist Church, where he had various leadership roles over the years. He was also a life-long supporter and volunteer for the Gideons. Leonard is survived by his wife, Polly, whom he adored. She was the love of his life; two sons, Gordon (Julie) and John (Loretta); four grandchildren, Michael John Norrell, Shauna Norrell Willett (Kyle), Paul Norrell and Dr. Nelly Norrell; three great-grandchildren, Kole and Shelby Willett of Waco, Texas and Cody Old of Little Rock; and two sisters-in-law, Barbara Woodyear and Kega Curtis, both of North Little Rock. Leonard was preceded in death by many aunts and uncles; and three brothers, Lewis Emory Norrell, Wallace "Butch" Norrell, and Aubrey John Culpepper. The family would like to thank Leonard's wife, Polly, for taking such good care of him, working tirelessly to keep him comfortable and at home. Funeral services will be held 1:30 p.m., Thursday at Smith – North Little Rock Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Rest Hills Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m., Wednesday, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army, 1111 W. Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203. Online obituary at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.