Charles Verdelle Norris was born at home at 506 Harding Street, Petersburg, VA on October 3, 1919 to parents, Fleming H. Norris and Alice Little Norris. He was the youngest of seven children (four brothers and two sisters). His family and friends called him by his middle name, Verdelle, while, to his co-workers, he was known as "Charlie." To his Granddaughters, he was Grand pop or Gramps.

He was educated in the Petersburg School System and graduated from D. Webster Davis high school. He then moved to East Patterson, NJ along with his brother, Hatcher, who had graduated college, to live with their eldest brother, Fleming, and to work through a youth program to help draw up blueprints for the Newark, NJ Housing Development.

Before being inducted into the Army (returning to Virginia), he worked as a civilian at a Post Exchange at Ft. Lee Camp. He was inducted into the Army on August 15, 1942 and honorably discharged September 30, 1944 at Walter Reid Medical Center, Washington, DC.

He came home to Petersburg, VA after discharge and lived there and in E. Paterson with his brother, Fleming and family. He then moved to Philadelphia to live with his sister, Dorothy Norris Turner and her family, finding work in The American Store. The move to Philadelphia led him to meet his future wife, Catherine Elizabeth Morgan; they met at a party in 1946, and married on June 7, 1947. They soon started a family and had two daughters, Catherine (Cathy) and Marcia, born nearly four years apart. 

He attended the McCarrie School and earned a certificate in Dental Mechanics while working for Signal Corps in Philadelphia. Though he didn't pursue a career in dental mechanics, due to financial necessity, he took pride in crafting dentures and molds in his spare time.

After the war, he was employed by the Veteran's Administration Center on Wissahickon Avenue and was President of the V.A.'s Employee Association during the years 1972-1975, receiving many commendations for his excellent work. At the V.A., he worked over thirty years in the front office, insurance, and finally in Loan Guarantee; retiring October 1, 1976 as a Loan Specialist (Realty).

Mr. Norris was a family man who found his happiness fixing things around the house (everything from painting to plumbing repairs) and was always offering his help to friends and neighbors. He enjoyed fishing, family trips, the ocean, and really loved fruit picking season in Mullica Hill. 

He loved his family and teaching his grand kids how to do fun old fashioned things like fly kites and fish. Charles Verdelle Norris lived his life as a gentleman and a family man who would do anything to help his loved ones. 

Survived by his wife, Catherine (Morgan) Norris, Daughters Catherine Y. (Norris) Whitehead and Marcia A. Norris, two granddaughters, Kristin J. Whitehead and Dr. Julie K.  Whitehead Streeter (Will), nieces, great nieces and great nephews