Norma Anne Denning's Obituary
Norma Anne Cummings Denning, 73, of Huntington, WV, passed away on Sunday, September 15, 2024, at Cabell Huntington Hospital after fighting a severe medical illness for a short time. Surrounded by her family, she was comfortable and at peace. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Melville Homer Cummings, Jr. and Marjorie Fenton Cummings, both of Huntington, WV. She is survived by her five sons, Dr. David Alan (Megan), Andrew Cummings (Michelle), Benjamin Homer (Katie), Joseph Carlton (Becky), and Samuel Fenton (Ying). She was also blessed with twelve grandchildren, David Tucker, Claire Elizabeth, Rowan Everleigh, and Rylan Harlow (David), Jacob Andrew, and Addison Greer (Andrew), Benjamin Homer II and Jonathan Luke (Benjamin), Jackson Carlton and Logan Cummings (Joseph), and Owen Tian and Otto Zhou (Samuel). Norma is also survived by her seven siblings with whom she was very close, Melville Homer Cummings III, John Leslie Cummings, Frank Fenton Cummings, Lillian Ruth Cummings Sergent, Martha Jane Cummings, James Evan Cummings, and Loan Cummings Vallandingham. She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and special friends. Norma was born in Huntington, WV, on June 7, 1951. She was a graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College, earning a bachelor's degree in 1973. Early in her adult life, she was an excellent tennis player, competing locally and on the road in many tournaments in the 3.5 and 4.0 level. She was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Huntington, WV, regularly teaching Sunday school, volunteering in the nursery and for many years organizing a multi-church Vacation Bible School event known as Marketplace 29 AD. She remained highly engaged with other church members and in countless groups and activities the church had to offer through her life. Of course, she was constantly involved in numerous activities with her five boys and grandchildren, including soccer, basketball, baseball, football, swimming, and academics. For many years, she was involved in the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, serving as a Den Mother, Den Leader, Troop Leader, and as a volunteer on the BSA Council. Eventually, she would go on her first mission trip to Nicaragua in 1993 and this became a passion of hers and something she did on an annual basis for many years. Beyond traveling with the mission, she spearheaded fundraising and recruitment of additional missionaries to go on their "Christmas in Nicaragua" mission trip. As she was less able to travel, she found new ways to serve the church, using her love of baking to sell homemade decorated cookies, creating "Cookies for a Cause" and donating the proceeds to various faith-based causes including the mission in Nicaragua. She was an avid reader and enjoyed knitting and crocheting, creating a Christmas stocking for each of her boys and many of her grandchildren, as well as creating stockings, caps, blankets, and other garments for everyone. Most of all, Norma cherished being surrounded by family and friends, taking in all the love and kindness that was always nearby, forming a special bond with each of her twelve grandchildren. Norma's sons would like to thank the medical team that watched over her during the last months of her life, with special thanks to Dr. Stephen Wilson, Dr. Michelle Worthy, Dr. Krista Denning, and the resident team with the Surgery Department. There will be a special place in our hearts for the caring nursing staff at Cabell Huntington Hospital, especially the team in the SICU where they attended to our mother and kept her and us comfortable during her time there. We would also like to thank our father, Dr. David Denning for his unwavering support. Dad has always been there for Norma throughout her life as they maintained a special bond over the past 50 plus years. Together, Norma and David created a larger and more loving blended family that has enriched the lives of all their children and grandchildren. We are a bigger and more caring family because of Norma's example of kindness, generosity, and LOVE. Hall Funeral Home and Crematory in Proctorville, OH, has been entrusted to care for Norma and provide visitation and funeral services. We invite friends and family, the church community, and any others to join us for visitation at First United Methodist Church in Huntington, WV, on Friday, September 20, 2024, from 6:00-8:00 P.M. and visitation at the church on Saturday, September 21, 2024 from 11:00-12:00 P.M. immediately followed by a Celebration of Life service at 12:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, the family humbly and with gratitude, requests that donations be made to First United Methodist Church-Missions-Nicaragua Fund 1124 5th Avenue Huntington, WV 25701. Condolences may be expressed to the family at ehallfuneralhome.com
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