Norma Welborn Conner, who helped with food and audience as part of the crew of the Northwest Arkansas Gridiron in 1982 and 1983, died May 23, 2005, at Butterfield Trail Village in Fayetteville. She was 85.
Norma was born December 29, 1919, at Newark, Arkansas, the daughter of Charles Edward Welborn and Faye Catherine Lane Welborn.
She was a writer and editor in the University of Arkansas Division of Information and later department director. She retired from the university in 1987.
A former State Girl of the Year for Beta Sigma Phi, she was also honored with several awards from the Cancer Society as well as awards recognizing her service to the Fayetteville Kiwanis Club. She also served as the club’s pianist for many years. She was a dedicated member of Central United Methodist Church.
Norma spent her past several years seeing to the needs of her late husband’s illness, and after he passed on in 1998, she spent more time with her family and friends. She loved visiting in her home as well as traveling, with one trip around the world.
She was an avid family history researcher, once tracing her roots to Charles E. Welborn of mid 1640’s England and Charles Welborn, a gunsmith and marksman who fought for the Colonial Army of Independence.
As her obituary put it, the peace and quiet of the “afterlife” of William Farrell Conner, her late husband of 50 years, ended on the day she died and was rejoined with him. Her family and friends were at her bedside as she so gallantly fought cancer, yet looked forward to being reunited with her late husband and family.
She was survived by one daughter, Sue Voegele of North Little Rock; a son, William Farrell Conner II of Fayetteville; a brother, Charles Welborn of Colorado; four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, May 26 at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, under the direction of Moore’s Chapel. Her ashes will be placed beside her husband’s at Batesville.
In lieu of flowers, the family asked that memorials be made to the American Cancer Society, 901 N. University, Little Rock, AR 72207.