Obituary of Nora Phelps

Born Nora Pote on July 13, 1920 in Philadelphia, Nora was the fourth of seven children. In 1941 Nora met Walter T. Phelps, the love of her life. They were married in 1942 for 16 years, until his death in 1958. In 1943 Nora worked at the Cramp Shipyard in Philadelphia. Being slender she was frequently put to work welding in between the bulkheads inside the gun turrets of U.S. Navy ships. Nora later moved to California where she eventually met her long-time friend Patrick Rodgers. Nora loved people and loved to make people laugh. She loved life, living it to the fullest, even going motorcycle riding at the age of 85 with her relatives in Virgina. Nora is survived by her two children, daughter Nora L. Sweeney of Portland, OR; son, Walter L. Phels of Cabazon, CA; grandchildren, James M. Smith of brawley, CA and Morgan E. Smith of Palm Springs, CA; and two great grandchildren, Ethan & Kyle Smith.