DOVER - Walter J. Norbet died after a long standing illness. He was born in West Frankfort, Ill., son of the late Walter and Elizabeth Norbet. Walter graduated from Frankfort Community High School. He was an accomplished student violinist serving as concert master of the school's concert orchestra for four years and was selected for four consecutive years with the Illinois all State High School orchestra.
After relocating in Chicago, Ill., he obtained employment as a shipping clerk for the renowned Marshall Field and Retail store in downtown Chicago. During his new residency he served in the Illinois National Guard, a prelude to subsequent service of 3 ½ years in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. And honorable discharge as a senior non commissioned officer (NCO), in 1946 he married a former marine corps NCO, Nellie V. Walls, of Dover, their marriage lasted more than 62 years.
Returning to local employers, Walter served as a sales analyst for International Playtex in Dover and safety director for two interstate motor carriers in Dover, C.F. Schwartz Motor Co. and USAC Transport, a carrier of aircraft parts. When USAC was sold to another carrier, Norbet was appointed office director and corporate secretary for the new headquarters offices in Detroit, Michigan. He concluded his venture in private Enterprise as a market research analysis for Industrial Surveys, Inc., of Chicago, Illinois.
Recognizing the value of a sound education, Walter was appreciative of the first Federal "GI Bill" which offered educational, housing and other benefits for WWII veterans. Choosing a lengthy course of study that could lead to a desired profession, he graduated with honors from Wesley Junior College in 1951. Several years later, he earned baccalaureate and Master Degrees at the University of Delaware. He was appointed and served as a graduate assistant in the Department of Political Science and was selected as a member of Phi Kappa Phi, one of the college scholastic societies.
His next career move turned to serving in local government as the administrative and budget officer for the Erstwhile New Castle Levy Court. During his tenure, he prepared annual budget estimates of all County income and expenditures as well as supportable property tax rate (Publication of all budget) by direction of the court, he supervised the installation of a modern day tabulating equipment which converted previously hand written data to a rapid and codified system of records keeping for various agencies, including the extensive property county wise taxable assessments used to determine the property tax rate. One of the benefits of the new system was Mr. Norbet's unprecedented research production and publication of a lengthy study reporting the extent and assessed value of tax exempt property in the New Castle County.
Mr. Norbet was a charter member of the National Association of County Administration often appearing before local organizations interested in the county's financial status.
He is survived by his sister Kay Lehnus Issaquah of Washington state, and several nephews and an extended family of friends.
Service will be 1:00 p.m. Friday, Mar. 10, 2017 in the Pippin Funeral Home, 119 W. Camden-Wyoming Ave., Wyoming, where friends may visit one hour earlier. Burial will follow in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Camden next to his late love, Nellie.
Letters of condolences can be sent via www.pippinfuneralhome.com