Norma Chappell Irvine

HENDERSON- Norma Faye Chappell Irvine, 89, of Dogwood Drive, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, December 1, 2025. Born March 6, 1936 in Wake County, she was the daughter of the late Vashtie Pearce Chappell and Montie Bruce Chappell.

Norma grew up in Henderson, North Carolina. She graduated from Henderson High School, where she was the salutatorian of the 1954 graduating class. She attended Greensboro College, where she majored in Music Education and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1958. After college, Norma taught in the North Carolina public school system for four years. She and David married in 1960. In 1968, the family moved to Delmar, New York where Norma pursued a varied musical career: teaching private piano lessons, directing the children’s choir at her church, and directing various musical stage productions. She and her family were devoted members of First United Methodist Church of Delmar, NY.

Norma and David moved to Henderson in 1995. Since her return to her hometown, Norma directed the children’s choir at the First United Methodist Church of Henderson and sang in the church choir and in the Northeast Piedmont Chorale. She was a member of the Sorosis Book Club and several bridge groups.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 13, 2025 at First United Methodist Church at 2:00 P.M. officiated by Rev. George Loveland.

Norma is survived by her husband, David James Irvine, of the home; her daughter, Allison Faye Irvine Dluzneski; her sons, David James Irvine, Jr. and Robert Bruce Irvine; 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Bruce Chappell and Keith Cappell.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Paulette Gibson Barnett, her brother, Timothy Wayne Chappell, and her nephew, Michael Tye Barnett.

The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall of First United Methodist Church following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 114 Church Street, Henderson, NC 27536 (choir fund).