Obituary of Norma Vae Coffindaffer

Norma Vae Lipps Coffindaffer passed on to her eternal home on July 21, 2018. Norma was born in Lewis County WV on August 23, 1930. She was the daughter of Hugh and Merle Corathers Lipps and she was one of seven children. Norma married Billy L. Coffindaffer on March 7, 1953, and they celebrated their 65^th wedding anniversary this year.

Norma graduated from Jane Lew High School and from Saint Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing in Clarksburg, WV. She was a Registered Professional Nurse. During her nursing career she worked for the Saint Mary’s Hospital, WVU as the camp nurse at Jackson’s Mill State 4-H Camp, WVU Student Health Service and the WVU Research Station assisting WVU professors in various health-related research projects.  She also worked in several public health programs and doctor’s offices in WV and in MD.

Norma’s greatest pleasure was her family. She and Bill have been inseparable since 1953 are very proud of their son and daughter and their families. They have been particularly pleased that all of their children and grandchildren are WVU graduates.  In addition to her husband Bill, Norma is survived by her son Ernie Coffindaffer and his wife Carol of Bridgeport WV along with grandchildren Keith Coffindaffer who resides in OK, Kelly Coffindaffer of NYC and Sarah Sellhorst and her husband Matt of SC along with great-grandchildren Avery and Emery Sellhorst. She is also survived by her daughter Donna Ballard and her husband Geoff of Hazelton, WV,  grandson Devin Ballard, his wife Skylar and great-grandson Declan of NJ as well as granddaughter Shannon Ballard of Morgantown.

Norma maintained a close relationship with her sisters and brothers. She is also survived by sisters Lucille Cox, Norene Westfall and Martha Lipps and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Preceding her were her sister Ramona Ramsburg and brothers Jim and Tom Lipps.

Norma was active in many community groups and organizations including United Methodist Women’s programs, P.E.O., the Present Day Club, Mountaineer Women’s Club, Florence Stewart Book Group, Friends of 4-H, Friends of Jackson’s Mill, Vision 2000 and numerous other church and civic activities. She was a 4-H Club Leader and a WV State 4-H All-Star.

She was a member of the Creative Living Initiatives Corporation group and the Morgantown Chamber of Commerce Vision 2000 program which was responsible for developing the concept for a Continuing Care Retirement Center in the Morgantown area. As one of the first residents of the Village at Heritage Point, she helped to establish the Resident’s Council to represent residents in working with management and served as a member and as President of the Council.

Norma loved to travel and visited all 50 US states, the Panama Canal, several Central American countries and the United Kingdom. She and Bill also visited Brazil, India, Belarus, and Canada on international consulting assignments.

Norma was a woman of innate grace, insight, and charm. She was a gracious and caring First Lady of WVU- Parkersburg, Concord University and Bluefield State College. She loved her friends dearly and cherished their relationships. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She lived a wonderful and fulfilling life and her family is grateful for everyone who cared for her.

Friends and family will be received at the Suncrest United Methodist Church, 479 Van Voorhis Road, Morgantown on Wednesday, July 25 from 2-4 and 6-8 PM.  Visitation will also be held at 10 AM on Thursday, July 26 with services following at 11 AM with Rev. Junius Lewis officiating.

Interment will follow the services at the Masonic Cemetery at the Good Hope United Methodist Church on US Rte. 19 in Good Hope WV across from the New Bethel UM Church. Rev. Billy Lewis Coffindaffer will officiate internment services at 3 PM on Thursday, July 26.