His family moved to Arvin, California when Norman was four years old. He met his future bride, Ruby Fargo in the 3rd grade. They were married December 1, 1952 and recently celebrated 69 years of marriage. He served two years in the United States Army and was stationed in Berlin during the Korean War. Upon returning to California, he started a trucking business hauling produce and cottonseed all across the state. He eventually started his own custom potato harvesting business and spent the majority of his years harvesting for King Pak Farms. The business grew and eventually expanded to include almond farming. Norman's honorable work ethic and dedication earned him a place of respect in the local agriculture community.
Norman was a lifelong learner and was always up for a challenge. He even obtained his pilot's license at age 68. His love for hunting led him to achieve a North American Wild Sheep Grand Slam, not an easy feat. He was an avid fisherman, and enjoyed trap and skeet shooting competitions-always striving for that perfect score of 100. He was a member of the California Indians, a shooting club established in 1919, where he made many dear friends. Norman also loved his horses and found great joy in packing trips throughout the Sierras. Although he got to visit many amazing places around the world, nothing made him happier than the annual family trips to Convict Lake and getaways to Morro Bay with Ruby.
Above all else, Norman was a beloved family man and took pride in his three children: Jennifer (Randy), John (Kim), and Clay (Irene). He loved sharing his interests and love of life with his 7 grandchildren and most recently, his 5 great-grandchildren. He will be remembered especially for his friendly and sociable personality, playing the harmonica at the family gatherings, being a loyal friend, his long-winded storytelling and jokes, and his strong Christian faith. The Etchison family would like to thank Dr. Del Toro and his staff as well as Hoffmann Hospice for their compassionate care. Our Pop has fought the good fight, he finished the race, he kept the faith. We will miss him dearly.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Cityserve at cityservenetwork.com
A visitation for Norman will be held Wednesday, January 12, 2022 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Hillcrest Memorial Park and Mortuary, 9101 Kern Canyon Road, Bakersfield, CA 93306.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hillcrestmemorial.com for the Etchison family.
