Norma Clara Barbour

Norma Clara Barbour, 94, of Ann Arbor, Michigan passed away on February 2, 2022, surrounded by her family. She was born to Harold Cowling and Clara Cowling (formerly Richards) on December 20, 1927 in Toronto, Ontario. Norma graduated from high school in Toronto and worked in various fields. She ultimately retired from the Inter-Cooperative Council at the University of Michigan where she touched the lives of many university students and is remembered fondly. Always committed to bettering the human condition, Norma volunteered for American Cancer Society, Kiwanis Club and Arbor Hospice. She married the late Roydon Barbour in 1950 and they lived together in Ontario and Quebec before relocating to the United States in 1960. They lived in San Diego California, Rochester, NY, and Trenton, NJ before settling in Dexter/Ann Arbor, Michigan. Norma is survived by five children raised in her loving care: Jeffery Barbour of Ypsilanti, MI; Bruce Barbour of Bellingham, WA; Keith Barbour of Monroe, MI; Garth Barbour of Ellicott City, MD and Sharon Barbour of Madison, WI. Keith and his wife Sheri blessed Norma with daily visits for the final months of Norma’s life. Norma made fast friends in her last months at Brookdale Assisted Living in Monroe, Michigan and her family holds great gratitude for them and the endlessly caring staff. Norma is also survived by nine grandchildren (Luke, Ian, Claire, Sadie, Jamie, Jessica, Julia, Corey and Steven) and three great-grandchildren, with a fourth on the way. Norma blessed and was blessed by many lives in her time including life-long friends Karen Lindner and Ellie and Alex Heingartner. Norma was predeceased by her loving husband Roydon in 1992. Norma was well-known by friends and family alike as a warm, humorous, feisty woman who brought light and energy to any room. In fact, at her 90th birthday party, participants were asked to write one word on a 3x5 card to describe Norma. Spunky, lively, welcoming, light-hearted, joyful, fun, hilarious, generous, strong and “boundless love” were used to describe her. A Celebration of Norma’s Life will occur in early Summer 2022. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society or Save the Children.