Audley G. “Jake” Norwood, 85, of Vero Beach, died Oct. 2, 2011, at the VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach.
Born in Oxford, MS, he had been a resident of Vero Beach for 31 years coming from Williamstown, N.J.
He was a retired career veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict, having served in the United States Navy.
He retired in 1963 after twenty years of service as a chief machinist mate.
He also retired from the Boiler and Turbine Lab at the Philadelphia Naval Base and the Vero Beach Press Journal.
He was a volunteer ambulance driver in Indian River County.
He was a parishioner at Saint John of the Cross Catholic Church in Vero Beach, as well as a member of the Knights of Columbus, St. Helen Council in Vero Beach.
In addition, he was a member of the Fleet Reserve Association, the Florida Chief Petty Officers Assn., and a Plank Owner of the US Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C.
He was also a member of the Vista Plantation Men’s Golf Assn. and Vista Plantation Grapefruit League.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Helen P. Norwood, of Vero Beach; three sons, Joseph C. Desmond (Jama), of Vero Beach, Michael J. Desmond (Maryellen), of Philadelphia, Pa., and Phillip M. Norwood (Linda), of Lancaster, Ohio; two daughters, Dorothy Smith (Smitty), of Cave City, Ky., and Dirinda Starr Collins (Randy), of Port Orange; one sister, Jewell Brower, of Louisville, MS; and six grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011, at 1 p.m. at Saint John of the Cross Catholic Church, Vero Beach, where military honors will follow.
Interment will be private at the convenience of the family.
Contributions as a memorial may be made to Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice Foundation, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960.
Arrangements by the Strunk Funeral Home and Crematory of Vero Beach.
An Online Guestbook is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.