Name: Demaine Funeral Home
Address: Alexandria, VA

Ken VonBargen and I made it a point to visit Karl and Maxine at their home in Alexandria, VA.  We went out for lunch on nice days.  This photo was taken on October 27, 2018.  Karl often shared his WW2 experiences with us.  He had been with the OSS, and had some great stories.  We both miss him. He taught us all.

Ken VonBargen and Karl had regular lunches on Wednesdays for many years.  They met at TJ’s in Beltsville.  They both shared a lot of NIR information, and their friendship deepened with every meeting.  They were generous in inviting others to join them, as long as they were willing to discuss NIR topics.  Dave Massie and Steve Smith joined them often.

After Karl and Maxine moved to Virginia, it was hard to arrange those luncheons.  Karl wanted to be there to care for Maxine, and not “out with the guys”.  Ken persisted, and we met with Karl a few times to get out for lunch. This photo is from one of those times, on October 17, 2018.

Karl was an amazing friend, mentor, and person.  I cannot express my appreciation for all that he did, shared, and developed.  We were all lucky to know him.

I remember first meeting Karl and Maxine Norris at their 50th wedding anniversary, which was my first date with my future husband.  Karl and Maxine had a banquet hall full of loving friends and family to help them celebrate their enduring relationship which was a lasting testament to their commitment to family and friends through holidays, charity, and lifelong service to the community.  Over the years, my family, including Karl and Maxine's three great-grandson's Ian, Gannon, and Liam, spent almost every major holiday of their childhood at the Norris home.  I will always remember Karl and Maxine for their gracious hospitality and continued effort to make time and space for their family and will be eternally grateful to them for opening their hearts and their home to their grandson's wife.

I am honored to be the current  pastor of the church that Mr Norris joined when he moved to Beltsville in 1950.  When reading Emmanuel UMC's history, his name appeared several times. After reading about his achievements and accomplishments, I wonder how he had time. Hearing his family and friends today at his memorial service  made me wish I'd had the honor of meeting this humble man. He was a Good Steward of God's creation and property. 
My condolences to his family.

Karl has been an inspiration and mentor to me, extending back to about 1976, when I was at the Smithsonian Institution Radiation Biology Laboratory and Karl was at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center.  I knew he had a accurate scanning radiometer, and in 1978 I asked him to measure the light in the growth chambers I was using for assessing the effect of increased UV light on the growth of peas.  While we were waiting for the results from his instrument, he showed me the near infrared spectrum he had measured on a sample of ground wheat.  He explained that an increase in the absorbed light at 2180 nm about the width of the plotted line indicated a measurable increase in the protein in wheat samples.  I was very impressed.  More than that, he suggested that I apply to a firm in Illinois that was looking for a lab manager.  I found out later that DICKEY-john Corporation manufactured an instrument based on his research, that measured the protein in wheat and many other agricultural products. That was the start of my long career in NIR spectroscopy.  All thanks to Karl Norris.

I never really talked to Karl much at family reunions but right after I started college for computer science I had a conversation about him all about how he used to work with computers back in the day and I thought it was SO cool that he knew all these things that I was about to start learning. He gave me his business card and I stuck it in a special spot in his purse. My dad couldn't have a better person to be named after
~Megan, daughter of William Karl Norris

In the mid-60's  Karl (and Maxine) helped send Bill (Dan) Norris Jr on a bus to Chicago to attend DeVry Institute of Technology.    I lived in Chicago and there met Bill, where we married in 1970, which is when Karl became "Uncle Karl" to me.   For those almost 41 years of marriage I recognized that had Uncle Karl not encouraged Bill to get his degree in Chicago, I would not have met my dear husband, or been part of the loving Norris family which is now so "my own".  I will  miss Uncle Karl who always had a big hug and smile for me!  He was an AMAZING man, whom I truly admired!

Uncle Karl was a very kind, gentle,  humble man,  with a sense of humor,  who always took time to talk with even the youngest members of the family. He was a favorite of everyone's at family reunions and will be greatly missed. I will always remember how he stood up and gave a speech at the last reunion,  thanking everyone for the food and for being there. He also said he planned on being at next year's reunion as a 99 year old! Unfortunately,  that won't happen and it saddens us. He also liked to attend the Curwensville High School alumni banquet,  which is held close to his birthday every year. Curwensville is his high school alma mater.  Debbie,  Rick,  Mark,  and the rest of the family have my sincerest condolences. 

Karl and Maxine moved into our Sunrise at Mount Vernon Senior Living community a few years ago.  Karl was a loving, loyal husband and I’ll never forget the day he decided to humbly share his life’s accomplishments with fellow residents. You could have heard a pin drop as he described his professional path, so touched were his neighbors. We are all feeling the loss of this lovely man and will forever be grateful to the family for entrusting us with his and Maxine’s care. Rest In Peace, you gentle, smart and kind man.  Warmly, your Sunrise at Mount Vernon Family

Karl was an original charter member of The Beltsville, MD Rotary Club.  He maintained strong, active membership for the club's entire 50 year history, from 1967 to 2016. He served the club with distinction in many capacities, including president. Karl, with his humble manner, was an inspiration to his fellow members. He was truly a great Rotarian.
Dr. John J. Moynihan

I’m very sorry to learn of Karl’s passing. His contributions to science are outstanding. I remember as a young graduate student in 1971 using an instrument designed to measure light absorption by living tissue. What a treat years later to meet the man on whose research the instrument was based. He and the members of his group were very helpful to me in my early career at Beltsville. I wonder if Karl met my father (Army Air Force Signal Corps) in the CIB Theater. 

To Mark and Debbie(and Rick): We grew up together in Beltsville, and I always knew that your Mom and Dad were across the street in case of an emergency:) I was not notified about Maxine's Memorial Service at the Methodist Church in Beltsville, so Dad and I missed that. I'm so sorry to hear about Karl, so I wanted to reach out to let you know that I'm thinking about you all. Dad sold his house last October, so the neighborhood is not "ours" anymore, but I have lots of memories of the 60+ years that we considered Montgomery Road home. I watched your Dad walk to the mailbox thousands of times, and recall his gentle wave "hello". My best to you...Mandy Brooks Raggio

My condolences to Karl' family. I share his Honorary Doctorate Ceremony (Prof. Donald Burns  & President Lorna Duphiney Presiding, IDRC-2006) with you. He had no knowledge this was to be bestowed upon him that day. He was genuinely moved and very happy. RIP Dr. Karl H. Norris (Hon.). The  EMS is now complete!

OBITUARY

Karl Howard Norris

May 23, 1921 – July 17, 2019

Demaine Funeral Home

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