Norma Jean (Esmond) Bunch was born in Kellyville, Oklahoma on January 2, 1940, to her mother, Flossie (Esmond) Armstrong. Norma was raised in Kellyville by her grandmother, Eliza (Watashe) Esmond where she grew up excelling at basketball through 10th grade. In the summer of 1957, Norma left to follow the love of her life, Teddy Ray Bunch, to Kansas City Missouri, where they married and began a 59-year love affair, giving birth to her son Kevin in 1959 and her daughter Gloria in 1964. In 1973, Norma and the family moved back to Sapulpa so she could care for her ailing grandmother, then later her mom, and eventually her husband, Ted — Norma lived her life caring deeply for her family and friends.
Norma was a loving mother and heavily involved in her children’s activities, whether it was hosting boy scout troop meetings, bluebird groups, on the front row at rock concerts or backstage at every dance recital. Norma also made every holiday memorable by making candies, fudge & cookies, coloring easter eggs, camping trips, cookouts and fireworks, Halloween parties and creating homemade decorations for the tree at Christmas — Christmas at Ted and Norma’s was over the top. And Norma never cooked for less than an army, whether it was on Thanksgiving Day or her regular Sunday lunch — cooking for family and friends was her love language, and Norma always had lots of love. Another prominent love language of Norma’s was her extraordinary heart for animals and her pets —- let’s just say it — any cat, mostly. Norma often took in strays, loving many of them back to health, and even returning some to their owners. Norma also had a generous sense of humor and loved to laugh, and her distinctive laugh was contagious. While Norma’s childhood might not have been the easiest path, she made up for it by making sure those that knew her knew they were always loved, accepted and welcome in her home.
Norma passed from this life on November 8, 2023, at the age of 83. Norma is survived by her son, Kevin Bunch and wife Rachel of Tulsa, Oklahoma; her daughter, Gloria Widdoes and husband David of Sapulpa, Oklahoma; her granddaughters, Olivia Widdoes of Saint Louis, Missouri and Isabel Widdoes of Kansas City, Missouri; sisters-in-law Virginia Latham and Jackie Brown of Sapulpa Oklahoma; and her niece, Connie Borgstorm-Mills, of Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Teddy Ray Bunch; grandmother, Eliza Esmond; mother, Flossie Armstrong; and her grandson, Issac Widdoes.
Graveside Services will be held on Monday, November 13, 2023 at 2:00pm at Green Hill Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are under the direction of Green Hill Funeral Home.
