Norman H. Lyon
Norman H. Lyon of Peconic Landing in Greenport died there on March 1, 2012. He was 91 years old.
Mr. Lyon was born in Oyster Bay, N.Y., on February 14, 1921, to Howard and Jane (née Grassing) Lyon. After his graduation from Syosset schools, he served 5 ½ years in the Army Air Corps. His first assignment was to the 31st Pursuit Squadron at Albrook Field in Panama, working on P-26A aircraft. It was in Panama that he was in the first class at the new Rio Hato Technical School where he learned aircraft maintenance.
After tech school he returned to Albrook Field and was assigned as Crew Chief to work on a P-39. He was stationed at La Chorrera Army Airfield No. 1, also in Panama, when Pearl Harbor was attacked, and he was later moved to Chorrera Field No. 2. After that he was stationed at France Field, Panama, for a short while before his unit was assigned duty back in Charleston, S.C. He was then transferred to the 36th Fighter Group at Biggs Field in El Paso, Texas, as Crew Chief on a P-47. Late in 1944 he was transferred again, this time to Ainsworth, Neb. While home on leave from Ainsworth, he came down with a spinal virus and was treated at Mitchell Field on Long Island and then sent to the Rehabilitation Center at Pawling, N.Y. After six months of rehab, he was returned to duty, but now at Kearney, Neb., where he worked on B-17 and B-29 bombers heading to the Pacific Theater. It was at Kearney that he ended his military service, with an honorable discharge, and returned home to Syosset.
Norm then went to work for Lockheed, where he was involved in aircraft maintenance for 28 years, working at JFK and Republic airports.
He and his late wife, Teresa, lived in East Northport for 45 years before moving to Statts Mills, W. Va., in 1994, Mattituck in 1998 and then Greenport in 2002. He was a former member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in East Northport and had been a current member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Greenport. He was also a member of the American Legion and the VFW.
Predeceased by his wife, Teresa J. Lyon, on Nov. 18, 2004, and his sister, Elizabeth (Lyon) Anderson, he is survived by four nieces, Patricia Shore of East Quogue, Elizabeth Anderson and Glenda Sorenson, both of Riverhead, and Catherine Vitarius of Kingston, N.Y.; a stepson, James Mazzara of Alabama; and three step-grandchildren, James Mazzara, David Mazzara and Kira Zoe Andrews.
Friends may call on Friday, March 9, from 4 to 7 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home, 51400 Main Road, Southold, NY 11971. Graveside services, with military honors, will be held Saturday, March 10, at 10 a.m. at Smithtown Landing Cemetery, Landing Avenue, Smithtown, N.Y., with the Rev. Claudia Raggie of Holy Cross Lutheran Church officiating.
Memorial donations to the Alzheimer’s Association, 45 Park Ave., Bay Shore, NY 11706 or St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 242, Greenport, NY 11944 would be appreciated.
This is a paid notice.
