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Marblehead — Norris Langdon Bull Jr., age 95, of Marblehead, passed peacefully away on December 10. Born in West Hartford, Conn., to the late Norris L. Bull and Mildred (Cooke) Bull, he was the eldest of five children. The Bull family later moved to Hawks Nest Beach in Old Lyme, Conn. He was a graduate of Rider College in New Jersey, after which he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He completed flight school at Pensacola and was commissioned as a TBF Avenger pilot during World War II. He completed his Navy service aboard the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown as she was welcomed into San Francisco Harbor after the war ended. Following his military service, he began a long career in business as a writer and editor of financial publications with the Frank B. Bennett and F.L. Putnam Companies in Boston. Norris played guitar and banjo throughout his life, with dance bands in college and as part of George Poor's Dixieland Jazz Band and Bob Hendrick's German Band, which many will remember from their Wednesday night sessions in the Little Harbor boat shed and sailing event parties at the local Yacht Clubs.His love of the outdoors and sports brought him many leisure hours of pleasure playing tennis, skiing with his children in New Hampshire and Maine and sailing his Ensign, "Raggylug". After he retired, golf became his passion, playing weekday mornings at Olde Salem Green with his golf group. He looked forward to "poker night" with friends. Family was the center of Norris's life.
He leaves his beloved and devoted wife of 67 years, Harriett (Brown) Bull; a daughter, Sally Bull Sands and her husband, Larry; and a son, Thomas Langdon Bull and his wife, Sara. He was the proud grandfather of Jeffrey Langdon Sands, Hannah Sands, Alexander Bull, and Lauren Bull, all of Marblehead. He also leaves his three sisters, Janet Littlefield, Theodate Lockhart, and Altabelle Pflomm of Connecticut; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Lewis S. Bull of East Lyme, Conn. He was particularly honored to serve as a groomsman for his nephew James Wimberg's wedding in 1998.
ARRANGEMENTS: A celebration of his life will be held at Old North Church, 35 Washington Street, Marblehead, on Saturday, December 15, at 11 a.m. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Marblehead Museum and Historical Society or the Marblehead Arts Association. Arrangements by the Eustis and Cornell Funeral Home, Marblehead. Please visit the online guest book for Norris at www.eustisandcornellfuneralhome.com.
