HAS A DEATH OCCURRED? WE ARE AVAILABLE 24/7 
(478) 250-1585
Call Us
Tribute Wall
Plant a tree in memory of E.
An environmentally friendly option
3 tree(s) planted in memory of E. Normand
Provide comfort for the family by sending flowers or planting a tree in memory of E. Normand.
Guaranteed hand delivery by a local florist
Loading...
J
Jim Gentry posted a condolence
Wednesday, December 20, 2023
I just heard the awful news of Dennis’ passing this afternoon. Like Harold and Paul Taylor, who also posted memories of Dennis, I worked at World Hi-Fi Electronics in Warner Robins, but already knew Dennis, having met him in high school. It is not enough to say that we became close friends - I spent countless hours with him in the wonderful little shop his father built in the back yard of their Centerville home. About a quarter of the shop was allocated to Dennis. It was a small room - maybe 10 wide x 12 deep. On the left side was the work bench - always stacked with various projects. On the right side was the stereo system, which changed form many times. Dennis would often play Knights in White Satin because of the ultra-low bass notes played at the end, which showcased his system and literally rocked the whole building. Did I mention it took up the entire wall?
Down the middle was the only available floor space, with a couple of chairs and whatever overflowed from the workbench. For years, most of my nights were spent there, and on the weekends, it was always standing room only. Sometimes there would be 6 or 8 bodies in that room, squeezed in somehow. I was proud to bring other friends to meet Dennis - we all were - and he was a friend to everyone with the same gentle smile. Every time I arrived and opened that door (you didn’t have to knock, ever) he would say “Hey, Jimmy!” in his welcoming voice.
Sometimes I would arrive and Dennis would not be in the shop, and if it wasn’t too late I’d knock on the door of the house and visit with Mr. and Mrs. Normand until Dennis appeared, and sometimes when Dennis would not be back for a while I’d visit with them even longer. The were also sweet and gentle people, just as welcoming.
Now I could write two books full of the adventures that we all shared with Dennis (or just witnessed), and of the gadgets we built together. But it was also a fine spectator sport to just watch Dennis at the workbench with his soldering iron, creating something amazing from parts - often cannibalized from who knows where.
I took a different career path than Dennis - my first love is music - but I learned a great deal from him, and those skills have served me well when a piece of music gear misbehaves and I’m able to diagnose the problem.
I moved to Florida in the 1990’s, and after the rest of my family left Warner Robins I didn’t get back up there much, and so I lost touch with one of my finest friends, which I’ve regretted, but never so much as today. His obituary picture perfectly captures the way I remember him. I am profoundly sad that I will never hear that voice again.
My father, who became an electronics engineer long before Dennis did, is still with us at the age of 91. I will see him Saturday, and he will be so sad to learn of Dennis’ passing. I’ll see many of my and Dennis’ mutual friends on NYE, and we will share some adult beverages, many tears, and much uproarious laughter recounting the great times we all had in that tiny little room.
To Dennis’ family - I am sorry that I have never met you (except for Dennis’ sister, once when I visited his mother after Dennis had gotten his own place). I could keep you laughing for hours telling you about the hilarious stuff he (and we!) got into - like the time he acquired a monstrously large capacitor that weighed 30-40 pounds from Tharpe Salvage. He brought it to school but didn’t have a way to fully charge it , and the got the unusually no-so-bright idea that he could charge it with 120 volts from the wall. The transformer on the pole outside the school, to say the least, was not happy with that decision, and I’m sure that the local power company never figured out what exactly caused the thing to go nuclear. He was also profoundly funny in other ways, and often invented catch phrases that found their way around all the schools in town (like -“What’s your major malfunction?”) of his famous One-Hertz Burp. He had an explosive laugh and would often “bwaaahahahahaha!” at some joke or story.
I am so sorry for your loss, and I am so sad that I never told Dennis later in life what he meant to me, how much he influenced me, and that I always considered him my brother. Rest easy old friend. I will always miss you.
Jim Gentry
H
Harold Taylor posted a condolence
Sunday, December 17, 2023
I met Dennis in the Summer of 1979, shortly after starting my first job as a high-school Senior at World Hi-Fi Electronics in Warner Robins. I was enrolled in the VICA work-study program, which facilitated afternoon work during the week with school credit equivalent to two classes per quarter.
To say I was green would be quite the understatement. I had been on my new job for about a week when a rather imposing red-headed gentleman whom I had seen in the store several times approached me and introduced himself: "Hey, I'm Dennis and I work at the audio repair shop next door! You're gonna be seeing quite a bit of me around here, so I figured I'd go ahead and introduce myself!"
At that moment, a friendship was born. Dennis was a mentor and a confidant who always welcomed friends to visit without any need to give notice. My brothers and I, along with friends from the store and others, would gather on a Friday or Saturday night in his tiny workshop, listen to his towering custom audio system, talk on his ham radio, and discuss electronics, current events, tell jokes and plan projects (Dennis was also an avid motorhead).
Dennis provided sage advice for my construction of my own audio system, and he was a lover of great classic rock music. One day, after I had known him for several years, I showed up at his shop and an Epiphone acoustic guitar was next to him. He picked it up and played Stairway to Heaven. I had never heard him play until that night. Amazing.
Dennis had the will and the intellect to master anything he set his mind to. He was a great friend and mentor, and I will miss our conversations, but treasure his memory.
Harold Taylor
A
Anonymous planted a tree in memory of E. Normand
Saturday, December 16, 2023
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-store/memorial-tree.jpg
Please wait
P
Paul Taylor lit a candle
Saturday, December 16, 2023
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-gestures/v2/candles/material_candle_blue.jpg
I met Dennis at the age of twenty shortly after I started working as a salesman at World HiFi Electronics in Stantom Plaza, Warner Robins. I am six-months younger than Dennis, so we both graduated high-school the same year. When we met, he probably hadn't worked at the Audio Clinic next door for very long, and I was conflicted about just working, or continuing school. We had several conversations about me continuing my education. In fact, we spoke many times about my interest in electronics and afterwards, I decided to take some great advice from Dennis. At the age of 18, he enrolled in a small technical school in Americas Georgia, He completed their two-year course graduating with a degree in Electrical Technology from South Georgia Vocational - Technical School. He was adamant about the excellence of the program so, per his recommendation, I enrolled in the same program in 1980. I graduated in 1982 and was immediately hired by Loral Electronics Systems in Norcross Ga. (which eventually became part of L3Harris, Alpharetta Ga.) where I spent my entire career and where I completed my education. After marrying Kelly in 1987 we raised our two successful boys, I retired just last month after 41 years and just received news of Dennis' passing (thank you Robert). My wish is to express my sincerest gratitude to Dennis for his kindness, friendship, and especially for his mentoring. I hold him in the highest regard. We never know the impact one special person can have on our lives and Dennis certainly gets credit for the impact he had on mine.
J
Jean Scarborough uploaded photo(s)
Monday, December 11, 2023
/public-file/108838/Ultra/9671853a-d82e-4485-93b0-a0c406915c8c.jpg
To all the family of Dennis, you have my condolences and prayers in the loss of your dear one. I have known Dennis since he was around 5 years old and moved beside me for many years of his life. Im so sorry I couldn't make it to the visitation and funeral but my car is in the shop. Again im sorry for your loww.
N
The family of E. Dennis Normand uploaded a photo
Friday, December 8, 2023
/tribute-images/1010602/Ultra/E-Normand.jpg
Please wait
T
Terry Parrish posted a condolence
Friday, December 8, 2023
I am sorry for the loss but know that he is with those that have gone on before him that loved him. I did not know Dennis other than some brief conversations via Amateur Radio. It was my loss that I did not meet him personally. Others that knew and worked with him described him as the smartest man they knew in the electronics field.
Terry Parrish
Lake Butler Fl.
N4TWX
M
Mike and Pat Sewell planted a tree in memory of E. Normand
Friday, December 8, 2023
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-store/memorial-tree.jpg
Thank you for all the memories and projects, Dennis. We'll miss you. Join in honoring their life - plant a memorial tree
Please wait
K
Keith Grace lit a candle
Thursday, December 7, 2023
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-gestures/v2/candles/material_candle_blue.jpg
RIP MY FRIEND UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN LOVE YOU!!
R
Robert L Grace Jr posted a condolence
Thursday, December 7, 2023
MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF MR.DENNIS NORMAN. I ONLY KNEW HIM FOR A SHORT TIME BUT IN THAT TIME HE BECAME MY LANDLORD AND SOMEONE THAT I CONSIDERED MY TRUE FRIEND. REST IN PEACE MR.DENNIS UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN. ROBERT L. GRACE JR. AND FAMILY .
A Memorial Tree was planted for E. Normand
Thursday, December 7, 2023
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-store/memorial-tree.jpg
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Heritage Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory Join in honoring their life - plant a memorial tree
Please wait
Copyright © 2023 | Terms of use & privacy Policy