Obituary of Norman Eric Westling

Norman was born to Eric and Mable Westling on April 14, 1926 at their home in the Sellwood area. He and his sister, Winifred, attended Sellwood Grammar School and Llewellyn Grade School. In 1940 the family moved to Klamath Falls just before the start of his freshman year of High School. The family moved back to Portland, and Norm attended Washington High School, and worked summers in the dye shop with his Uncle at the Woolen Mill. A hot job during the hottest part of the year! The family home was across from Sellwood Park and overlooked Oaks Park. Norm spent a lot of time in the pool and playing tennis. He was very involved in the youth group at Sellwood Baptist Church, including their softball and basketball teams. Norm was in the Oregon State Guard during his senior year in High School for a time before he enlisted in the Navy in February 1944 as a seaman first class. His principal wrote the recruiting office asking that they let him graduate first, which they allowed. He was called to active duty on July 14, 1944. Because he was so tall and had the Oregon State Guard experience behind him, he was made squad leader in boot camp. His ship service as a radioman took Norm to the Marshall Islands, Japan, Korea, China, The Philippines, Hong Kong, Pearl Harbor, and through 2 typhoons. He has repeatedly told his family that God protected him during those times. He held the rank of radioman 3rd class when he was discharged in June of 1946. He attended and graduated from Lewis and Clark College on the GI bill. An injury ended his college football career, but he held school records for several years in Track and Field for Shot and Discus. Norm was a leader of the large and active Intervarsity Christian Fellowship group there. During this time Norm met Eleanor Danielson, who was a student at Reed College, at a church meeting where he was leading singing. They spent so much time studying together at Reed that year that the janitor thought he was a Reed student also. They married on June 28, 1952, and had a faithful and loving relationship that lasted until her death 60 years and 2 days later. Norm was a man of faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior. He was highly involved in serving at church throughout his life. He was a member of Sellwood Baptist Church until he and Eleanor became charter members of Milwaukie Baptist Church (now called GracePointe.) For most of his career, Norm owned Westling Company with his father. They were manufacturer’s representatives of automotive machine shop parts. After Eleanor’s death, Norm learned to cook. He made his children proud with his attempts and successes in the kitchen. He lived alone with many visits and help from his kids and grandkids until April, when a fall caused broken ribs, and he could no longer stay alone. He moved in with Linda’s family (she’s a nurse!) and thoroughly enjoyed being part of the whirlwind of their lives. Norm is survived by; his sister, Winifred Haldors, his daughters, Joan (Mrs. Rick Mathews) and Linda (Mrs. Darrel Gilbert); his son, Doug; three granddaughters (Lisa Mathews Cader, Karen Mathews Lisignoli, and Lauren Gilbert), 1 grandson (Daniel Gilbert), and 3 great granddaughters. Service Information