Willa C. Norwood

Willa C. Norwood, 94, of Tecumseh, passed away Sunday, August 6, 2017 at Midland Hospice House in Topeka. She was born October 12, 1922 in Graham County, Kansas, the daughter of William Grant and Grace Nancy (French) Kline.

Willa was a long time resident of the Tecumseh community and was a member of the Tecumseh Garden Club, the Topeka Genealogical Society, a life member of the Lecompton Historical Society, and the Tecumseh United Methodist Church where she served many positions in UMW as well as on committees and helped prepare meals for Kiwanis for many years. She also was a Captain for her area for TCERT and took all of the required classes to be able to be one of the first responders for her area. She helped prepare meals at Let's Help for many years as well as being an avid supporter of the Topeka Rescue Mission. She worked for a time at Montgomery Ward, Woolworths, Macy's , helped run the family owned grocery store for many years and worked at Josten's until retiring in 1982. She loved her family, her church, her God, and people. She enjoyed gardening, her flowers, canning, cooking, mowing, genealogy and just being outdoors with nature.

Willa married Clarence L. Grandstaff on January 9, 1942 in Topeka. They were divorced. She later married William J. "Jack" Norwood on April 15, 1971 in Tecumseh. He preceded her in death on January 11, 1988. She was also preceded in death by her parents, two sons, Marvin Grandstaff and Melvin Grandstaff, step-daughter, Anita Miller and step-son, William C. Norwood.

Survivors include her children, Stephen Grandstaff, Linda (Bill) Estes, Lois (Mark) Elmer and Carol (Mike) Stormer, daughter-in-law, Janie Grandstaff, eight grandchildren, Dana (Richard) DeJaynes, Shelley (Karl) Stottlemyer, Leah Grandstaff, Whitney (Matt) Volpert, Erin (Malcomb) Stapel, David (Jamie) Stormer, Andrew (Rozi) Stormer and Matthew Stormer, fourteen great-grandchildren, six step-children, LeRoy (Carol) Grandstaff, Gary (Gloria) Grandstaff, Peggy (Steve) Cregut, Kathy (Terry) Falck, Vicky Norwood and Lori Norwood, sixteen step-grandchildren and many step-great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 11, 2017 at Penwell-Gabel Southeast Chapel. Burial will follow in East View Cemetery at Big Springs, Kansas. Willa will lie in state and the family will receive friends from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Thursday, August 10, 2017 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Tecumseh United Methodist Church, 334 SE Tecumseh Rd., Tecumseh, Kansas 66542 or to the Topeka Genealogical Society, 2717 SE Indiana Ave., Topeka, Kansas 66605 or to the Lecompton Historical Society, 640 E. Woodson Ave., Lecompton, Kansas 66050 or to the Midland Hospice House Kitchen, 200 SW Frazier Circle, Topeka, Kansas 66606.

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