Norman Randall Strong passed peacefully at home with his family by his side on Wednesday, June 2, 2010.

He was born in Vernon Center on Oct. 3, 1916, the son of the late Nathan Morgan and Gwendolyn Randall Strong. He was the fourth generation to operate the Strong Farm as a dairy farm until 1965, after which turkeys and other crops were raised.

Norman was a 69-year member or the First Congregational Church of Vernon, where he held many offices and was elected deacon emeritus. He was one of the founders of the Vernon Fire Department and an active member for 35 years. He was an organizing member of the Zoning Board of the Vernon Fire District, the Board of Assessment Appeals, and the Vernon Republican Town Committee. Norman was a member of the Tolland County Farm Bureau, supervisor of the Tolland County Soil and Water Conservation District, a 4-H leader, a 75-year member and Past Master of the Vernon Grange, and a member of the advisory board for vocational agriculture at Rockville High School. After selling the dairy herd, Norman became superintendent of Grove Hill Cemetery and went on to become head the Town of Vernon cemeteries upon their consolidation. He was a member of the Mayflower Society, Fayette Lodge 69 of AF&AM, past high priest of Adoniram Chapter 18 of RAM, affiliated York Rite and Scottish Rite Bodies, and the Sphinx Temple Shrine.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Geraldine Risley Strong, and three children, Carol Nelson of Vernon, Morgan Strong and his wife, Karen, of Tolland, and Nancy Strong of Vernon. He leaves two grandchildren, Michael Nelson and his wife, Tenley, of Norwich and Jennifer Schirmer and her husband, Thomas, of Willington. His special joys were his great-grandchildren, Addison Nelson, Christian Schirmer, and Stefan Schirmer. He was predeceased by his loving sister, Gwendolyn Niederwerfer of Tolland, and leaves many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at the First Congregational Church of Vernon, 695 Hartford Turpike, Vernon, on Sunday, June 6, 2010, at 2 p.m,. followed by a reception at the church parlor. Committal will be at the convenience of the family at Elmwood Cemetery in Vernon Center.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Congregational Church of Vernon, ATTN: Strong Fund, 695 Hartford Turnpike, Vernon, CT 06066 or to The Strong Farm Preservation Fund, P.O. Box 3005, Vernon, CT 06066.

Ladd-Turkington & Carmon Funeral Home, Vernon, has care of the arrangements.

For online condolences, visit

www.carmonfuneralhome.com