Norma Jo Douglas' Obituary
Norma Jo Douglas, 73, passed away peacefully on June 2, 2025, in Dagsboro, Delaware, after a courageous 11-year battle with lung cancer.
Born Norma Jo Phillips on September 29, 1951, in Lebanon, Kentucky, she was the beloved daughter of Joseph (Joe) and Leona (Nina) Phillips. At the age of six, her family moved to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, where Norma spent most of her life. She graduated from Robert E. Peary High School in Rockville, Maryland, and later went on to earn her degree at Montgomery College in Germantown, Maryland.
Norma began her career at Epoch Engineering, in Gaithersburg, MD, and then went on to devote 37 years to a career in the Department of Defense contracting, retiring from Lockheed Martin Corporation in 2017. Her professionalism, dedication, and integrity earned the respect and admiration of colleagues and life-long friends throughout her career.
In 1988, Norma married the love of her life, Noel Douglas, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Together, they blended their families and created a loving home in Germantown and later Mt. Airy, Maryland, before retiring to Delaware in 2020.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents, Joe, and Nina Phillips; her sister, Ann Strope; her brother-in-law, Dr. Mark Strope; her nephew, Christopher Strope; and her bonus brother, Michael Cunio.
She is survived by her devoted husband, Noel Douglas; her sister, Virginia Phillips; her children, Sherri DePollar, and Steven (Jenny) DePollar; her bonus children, O’Neil (Cassandra) Douglas and Dobbee Douglas; and nine beloved grandchildren: Dr. Kyle DePollar, 2nd Lt. Christian DePollar, Danielle, Kai, Kayla, Lauryn, Tre, Aydin, and Zion. She also leaves behind one cherished great-grandchild, Nathaniel.
Norma is also survived by her nephews, Tony (Jackie) Strope and Richard (Dr. Rena) Strope; her niece, Ramona (Gerry) Sachs; great-nieces, Dr. Taylor Ann, and Sloane Strope; great-nephew, Sylas Strope; and a host of other family members and dear friends.
Norma’s warmth, wisdom, and love will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
A private service will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers or other sentiments, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, or to a charity of your choice, in Norma’s memory.
Please sign the virtual guestbook located on the tribute page.
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