Obituary of Norman Stephen Barna

Norman was born in Harvey, Illinois and graduated from Thornton Township High School in 1939. His parents were of German and Hungarian descent, and immigrated to the United States in the late 19th Century. Following high school, he worked as a messenger, office boy and finally a clerical assistant in the Vice President’s office at Swift and Co. in Chicago. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in January, 1942, and received flight training at the Army Air Corp Advanced Flying School at Foster Field in Texas. He flew over 20 different kinds of aircraft, primarily the Curtiss C-46 transport plane on the continents of North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Asia. He piloted 92 missions over the Himalayas between China and Burma. One of these flights over the “Hump” necessitated a parachute bail-out and he was captured by members of a headhunter tribe. Luckily, the British were paying more for prisoners at that time than the Japanese, so he was treated well and eventually returned to his unit. Later in life, Norman was a member of the Hump Pilot’s Association. Norman attained the rank of Captain, was awarded the Air Medal and the Presidential Unit Citation, and was honorably discharged on November 29, 1945. Following the war, he joined the Air Force Reserves, and retired in 1963 with the rank of Major. Norman returned to Chicago in 1945 and held the position of Assistant to the Director of Public Relations at Swift and Co. He also successfully completed 5 night classes at Northwestern University. At his job he met LaRay Martyn, and they married in March, 1947. The couple moved to Portland in 1948, where he worked as Assistant Advertising Director for the First National Bank of Oregon and attended Lewis and Clark College at night. He graduated Summa Cum Laude in Economics-Business Administration in 1953. The day after graduating he began his new career as a Purchasing Agent at Cascade Manufacturing Co, where he worked for over 15 years and resigned in the position of Material Manager. His next career move was at OMSI Kit, Inc, a company founded by OMSI to make science kits for grade-school curriculum. He was Assistant to the President and retired in 1972 as Executive Vice-President. Following retirement he defined his role as “house-husband, family investment manager, and supporter of LaRay’s academic projects.” He is survived by his son Randall Barna (Cristina) of Bend, daughters Vicki Wood and Shari Steber (Will) of Oak Grove; grandchildren Jesse Wood, Jeremy Wood (Robin), Emily Guerrero (Luis), Carin Steber and Isabella Barna; great-grand-daughter Clara Wood, and a great-grandson to be born in July. He was pre-deceased by his wife LaRay in 2010. Norman’s interests were: stamp collecting, gem-cutting, and playing poker, bridge and cribbage. He was a very intelligent, loyal and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend to many. He will be deeply missed but never forgotten. Inquiries may be made to daughter Shari Steber at: stebers@comcast.net