• Born: 7 June 1927, Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, USA ²
• Marriage (1): Paul Bennett SMITHEY on 24 April 1958 in Austin, Travis County, Texas, USA ^{1 2 3}
• Died: 19 January 2008, Sandy Harbor, Llano County, Texas, USA at age 80 ²

   Other names for Norma were Norma HECHT,² Norma Jean HECHT, Norma H. NITZINGER, Norma J. NITZINGER and Norma SMITHEY.²

  General Notes

Parents:  Herbert A. Hecht and Helen Sullivan

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Obituary (published in the Austin American-Statesman on 1/22/2008):

Norma Hecht Smithey Nitzinger of Sandy Harbor, Horseshoe Bay, Tex., died on January 19, 2008 at the age of 80. She was born in Springfield, Ohio on June 7, 1927 to Herbert A. and Helen (Sullivan) Hecht, who preceded her in death. She was also predeceased by her brothers, Herbie and James.

She attended St Theresa Catholic School and Catholic Central High School, graduating in 1946. She worked summers during World War II at Robbins & Myers Defense Factory and Patterson Field in Fairborn, Ohio. Upon graduation she went to work at Wright-Patterson AFB until 1952, when she moved to Hialeah, Fla., and became an airline stewardess, working CAM (Civilian Air Movement) flights during the Korean War. She transferred to New Orleans with Eastern Airlines.

She always said "For a gal that had never been west of Ohio; she eventually visited every state, as well as Cuba, The Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, and even made it to London and Ireland where she kissed The Blarney Stone". She traveled by car, bus, plane and took several cruises. She loved to travel as well as read, work crossword puzzles, play computer games and send and receive E-Mails.

Norma left the Airline Industry and moved to Austin, Texas, married Paul Smithey and they had five children. After their divorce, she and the children moved to Houston and she worked for the VA Regional Office and retired from IRS in 1989 after over 22 years of Government Service.

She belonged to many Organizations, starting in High School when she and a group of her peers formed the B.O.B.O.B.'s (Bureau of Better Old Buddies). She was a National member of The American Business Association (ABWA for nearly 30 years), Parents Without Partners (PWP) and was the leader of the Keenagers of St. Dominic Catholic Church, which was affiliated with Harris Co., Precinct 2 Senior Olympics and Travel Club. She was a Life member of the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 10376 in Marble Falls, Texas. She and Jack both served as ushers at St. Dominic's in Houston and St. Paul the Apostle Chapel in Horseshoe Bay. They also were volunteers at SunBelt Regional Hospital in Channelview, Texas.

She has maintained lifelong friendships she made along the way and her wit and good humor will surely be missed by all who loved her and knew her, especially her little dog 'Snowball' and her beautiful grandchildren, who were precious to her. She met Jack Nitzinger when they were both members of PWP and they were married Sept. 1, 1979. They moved from Houston to Sandy Harbor in June 1997 and both enjoy their retirement. They are members of the Sandy Harbor Volunteer Fire Department and Property Owners Association.

There will be a memorial service on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Horseshoe Bay, Texas. If desired, donations may be made to the Sandy Harbor VFD, 110 Lake Shore Drive, Horseshoe, Bay, TX 78657; or to a charity of your choice in Norma's memory. Arrangements are entrusted to Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home in Marble Falls, Texas.

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  Recorded Events in Her Life

• She had a residence in Houston, Harris County, Texas, USA. ²

• She had a residence in 1997-2008 in Sandy Harbor, Llano County, Texas, USA. ²

• Her memorial service was held on 22 January 2008 at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Horseshoe Bay, Llano County, Texas, USA. ²

Norma married Paul Bennett SMITHEY on 24 April 1958 in Austin, Travis County, Texas, USA.^{1 2 3} The marriage ended in divorce on 29 January 1971. (Paul Bennett SMITHEY was born on 24 October 1932 in prob Texas, USA ⁴ and died on 31 December 2005 in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, USA ⁴.)

  Recorded Events about their Marriage

• They were divorced on 29 January 1971 in Travis County, Texas, USA. ^{1 3}

Norma next married Living