Obituary of James Norman Phipps

James Norman (Norm) Phipps July 16, 1917 – December 7, 1941 Norm was born in Rainier, Oregon, to John and Barbara Phipps on July 16, 1917. He was the middle child between two sisters, Estelee Poetsch and Signa Nelson. He attended elementary school in Rainier until his family moved to Portland. Norm finished his education at Boise Elementary and graduated from Benson High School in 1937. At Benson, he majored in Vocational Printing where he was the Mechanical Editor of Poly Tech and the captain of the basketball team. He enlisted in the Navy November 5, 1940 and earned the rank of Seaman Second Class. He reported for duty on the USS Oklahoma in Pearl Harbor on June 7, 1941. On December 7, 1941, Norm, along with over 400 sailors, was killed when the USS Oklahoma sank in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. His mother was presented a Purple Heart for his service to our country. Through DNA testing his remains were identified in 2016, 75 years after his death. Unfortunately, Norm’s parents and two sisters were deceased at this time. Surviving relatives include his nephew Paul Poetsch and niece Normandee Nelson, along with multiple generations of nieces and nephews. A military memorial service was administered on October 17, 2016 at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. The family wishes to extend its heartfelt appreciation to the unrelenting dedication of the United States Navy. The devoted efforts of the navy give families continued hope that every fallen hero will someday return home. Service Information