Fallen Brother - Norm Tindall
Message from Vern Lochausen, Captain, USN (Retired) & President, TACAMO Community Veterans Association
Also, a Veterans Day video message from Norm to the TACAMO Community can be viewed https://www.facebook.com/tacamo.community/posts/1354669087919024?pnref=story
Dear Navy, Boeing, and OKC friends,
It is with very much sadness that I report to you this morning that our brother Norm Tindall has lost his personal battle with cancer. With Victoria by his side at their home, he departed the pattern for a heavenly landing, prop dressing, and a well-deserved rest last evening. Some of you have reached out to him in the past week with texts as he desired and bless you for that. Victoria will be making arrangements and further announcements will follow.
Norm has touched so many lives in a positive way. He is the quintessential Boy Scout. He was my instructor with Bill Wilt at Nav School in VT-29, a fellow department head and MC, XO at TRAWING in Corpus and our lead guy with Mark Herkert at Tinker. Norm was the face to the community and the base. Mark was the guy with the plans and support agreements headaches. Norm was support to the Wing when Tom Trotter and I were there. He organized the community support for what is currently known as the TACAMO Community Council and the awards given by chambers and OKC leaders to outstanding Sailors from the Wing. Later I hired him into Boeing where he and I worked a number of successful proposals and he took over my responsibilities to run the Boeing Field Services teams including Fallon Nevada. He retired from Boeing last year. He is 70 this year. Mostly they have lived at their lake house at Texoma but still have the OKC residence. He was the Navy League president for years and capitalized on the late RADMs Kirkpatrick and Ackerman community standing to make the Navy Ball in OKC the largest in the Nation. Yes….I am nominating him for the TACAMO Hall of Fame. He gave Rocket Maser his callsign. He took Janeen Igou on her first deployment. He and Irish had special bond in the last days of VQ-3 at Guam. He mentored many TACAMO folks and flew a lot of missions. Norm was the best man at my wedding to Colleen in 2004. He is extremely special to me. I cannot tell you the blow that took to the gut when Victoria called me last night. My partner of so many years is gone. The world is a worse place without Norm in it.
With much regret, Vern
Update on 1.11.17
September 6, 1946 - December 17, 2016 OKLAHOMA CITY Commander Norman J. Tindall, USN (Ret.), age 70, passed away on December 17, 2016, after more than two years battling cancer.
He was married to Victoria D. Tindall. Born in Helena, Montana, on September 6, 1946, to Edward Dode and James Barnes Tindall, Commander Tindall grew up in Lancaster, Texas. After graduation from University of Texas, he entered Naval Service, receiving Naval Aviator Wings in August 1971.Commander Tindall's naval career concluded with assignment as Chief Staff Officer, Strategic Communications Wing ONE at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma.
He was responsible for construction of the TACAMO complex at Tinker AFB, coordination of the relocation of 4 units and 1500 personnel to Tinker AFB, and standing up Strategic Communications Wing ONE. In previous tours of duty he served aboard two aircraft carriers, USS Constellation and USS Ranger, as well as several squadron flying tours. Commander Tindall accumulated over 6,000 flight hours in various Naval aircraft prior to retirement in May 1993. After retiring from the Navy, Commander Tindall joined OC, Incorporated as Operations Manager overseeing navy training contracts at TAFB. January 1999, he joined Boeing Aerospace managing and working on military contract programs.
Commander Tindall believed in giving back to the naval community, serving first as Vice-President and then later as President of the Oklahoma City Navy League. He also served as chairman of the Navy Birthday Ball Committee, which he originated in 1992. Under his guidance, the event grew in excess of 1000 attendance. Guest speakers included the Secretary of the Navy, CNO and numerous CINCS. Commander Tindall was later nominated by former Oklahoma Lt. Governor Mary Fallin, now Governor Fallin, to the War on Terror Memorial Committee for construction and dedication of a memorial to Oklahoma service members fallen in the War on Terror.
Commander Tindall was the perfect combination of humility, chivalry and respect for God, country and family. He will be remembered for his infectious smile and never ending positive attitude. Commander Tindall is survived by his wife, Victoria of Oklahoma City; five children, Holly Kuster and Lt. Col. Aaron Kuster, Harrah, Oklahoma, Jennifer Anderson and Dr. John Anderson, Houston, Texas, Tara Davidson, Austin, Texas, Scott Tindall, Corpus Christi, Texas, and Jordan Davidson, Edmond, Oklahoma; as well as eight grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Terry and Larry Roddy, Waxahachie, Texas; and nieces, Stephanie and Kevin Patterson, Waxahachie, Texas, and Stacy and Kevin Brock, Southlake, Texas.
Memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m., Thursday, January 12, 2017, at Smith & Kernke N. May Chapel. The family wishes that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. -
See more at: legacy.newsok.com/obituaries/oklahoman/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=183551903#sthash.mKuIQrws.dpuf