Caskie Norvell II, born October 13, 1912, in New Orleans, Louisiana, had a varied career in radio, public relations, and freelance writing. He graduated from the Virginia Episcopal School and Davidson College, and studied law at the University of Virginia. Norvell served as a U.S. Navy officer during World War II. Post-war, he worked for Breyer Ice Cream and later Funkhouser Industries, and wrote for numerous periodicals. He married Elizabeth Jeanne Williams in 1946 and had a daughter, Laura. His other daughter, Anne, from a previous marriage, died in 1949. His residences were in Summit Point, West Virginia, and Gore, Virginia.
Caskie Norvell, II, of Summit Point, West Virginia, and of Gore, Virginia, has had varied experience in radio work, public relations, business, and as a free lance writer. He is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, where he was born October 13, 1912, son of Caskie Estes and Nanon Yolande (Petrovic) Norvell. His father, a native of Charlotte Court House, Virginia, was a commercial fertilizer manufacturer, associated with the American Agricultural Chemical Company of Greensboro, North Carolina. He was a member of the National Recovery Administration Advisory Committee for the Fertilizer Code, and a member of the Kiwanis Club and the Greensboro Country Club. He was Second Reader in the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Greensboro. His wife was a native of Dalmatia, her place of birth being within the present-day boundaries of Yugoslavia.
After graduating from the Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg, in 1931, Mr. Norvell entered Davidson College. He received professional training at the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was a member of the class of 1937. From that year until 1940, Mr. Norvell was a radio announcer and commentator. He served as president of Tidewater Estates Company, of Heathsville, Virginia, from 1940 to 1942.
During the ensuing four years, Mr. Norvell served as an officer in the United States Navy, aboard the U.S.S. “Sciota,” on the staff of Commandant Fifth Naval District, on the staff of Commander Service Force, Pacific Fleet, and as communications officer, Naval Ammunition Depot, Mare Island, California. Still an officer in the United States Naval Reserve, Mr. Norvell is now personal representative of the Commandant of the Fifth Naval District, for Winchester, Virginia.
On returning to civilian life, in 1946, Mr. Norvell became a representative of the Breyer Ice Cream Company of Philadelphia, in the Winchester office of the company. Since 1948, he has been director of public relations for Funkhouser Industries, Inc., of Ranson, West Virginia. He is also associate editor and columnist of the “Jefferson Republican,” of that city, and is a member of the board of directors of Shenandoah Valley, Inc.
A free lance writer, Mr. Norvell has published stories and articles in “Esquire,” “Coronet,” “True,” “The Southerner,” “Holland’s,” “West Virginia State Magazine” and other periodicals. He is a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity; past president of the Northumberland County Rotary Club; and a member of the American Legion. He is a member, and has twice been fleet captain, of the Rappahannock River Yacht Club of Irvington, Virginia. A Christian Scientist in religious faith, he is First Reader of his church in Winchester.
In Sonoma, California, March 24, 1946, Caskie Norvell, II, married Elizabeth Jeanne Williams, of Glen Ellen, California, daughter of Roy Frederick and Mary Elizabeth (Smith) Williams. Mr. and Mrs. Norvell have become the parents of a daughter, Laura Nandén, born November 15, 1949. By a previous marriage Mr. Norvell was also the father of a daughter, Anne Dabney, who was born August 26, 1940, and who passed away May 29, 1949.
Mr. Norvell’s addresses are “The Spruces,” Summit Point, West Virginia, and Timber Ridge Farm, Gore, Virginia.