Delbert Stearsman

Delbert (Deb) Norris Stearsman, 90, passed away peacefully into heaven on Friday, March 24, 2017, at the Western Kentucky Veterans Center in Hanson, Kentucky where he had been a resident for the past eight years. Deb was born July 6, 1926 to the late Wallace and Wessie Maxwell Stearsman in Hopkins County, Kentucky. He was a member of Century Christian Church in Owensboro, Kentucky. He was united in marriage to the late Alma Geneva "Ginny" Norfleet on March 25, 1951 at First Christian Church in Madisonville, Kentucky.
Deb attended and graduated from Morton's Gap High School in 1944. He proudly enlisted in the United States Army immediately after graduation where he served in Germany as a technician until being honorably discharged in 1946.
Following his discharge Deb spent his early years in the coal mines of Kentucky before his post education lead to a 25 year career with Metropolitan Life Insurance retiring in 1984 as assistant manager. Always on the go, following his retirement Deb continued to work with Thrifty Nickel in Owensboro and Lincoln Professional Lab in Owensboro making deliveries and new friends.
Deb had a great love of life, people and most importantly family. He was an avid gardener and took great pride in his work. He shared his love of the outdoors with his late wife Ginny and after relocating to Daviess County in 1959 purchased a farm in Ohio County where the family spent weekends with special focus on teaching his two sons how to farm and ride any type of motorcycle. Deb never missed a family reunion where he would share home cooked food (especially his sister Kaye's coconut cake), and old stories about his time in World War II. Deb never met a stranger, was blessed with the "gift of gab", always had a smile on his face and a story in his heart. He will be greatly missed by family and friends.
Deb was preceded in death by his wife "Ginny" in 2003; parents, Wallace and Wessie; brothers Billy, Tim, and Jackie Stearsman; and sisters Jeanine Ogelsby and Alda Boling.
Survivors include sons; Dr. Bradley (Debra Bennett) Stearsman of Owensboro, KY and Kelly (Andrea) Stearsman, Sugarland, TX; grandchildren, Derek Stearsman, Owensboro, KY, Emily (Adam) Klein of El Paso (Fort Bliss), TX, Maria (Mike) Shouse, Owensboro, KY, Eli Gerlach, Tell City, IN, Sammy Morales and Wayne (Heather) Morales, both of Houston, TX; great-grandchildren, Kaylee Basham, Kadence Shouse and Kooper Shouse all of Owensboro, Ky, Thea Thomasson, Zane Thomasson, Sophia, Leonie, and Cora Alice (unborn) Klein all of El Paso TX and Chris, Timmy, Kara, Ethan, Gage and Jace Morales all of Houston, TX; siblings, sister Kaye (Bill) Simmons and family of Evansville, IN; brothers Ronnie (Evalda) Stearsman and family of Russellville, KY; and Kent (Linda) Stearsman and family of Henderson, KY; along with numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews and his grand dogs and pals Jack, Peyton and Roz.

Deb's family would like to give special thanks and gratitude to the staff and his second family at the Western Kentucky Veterans Center in Hanson, Kentucky for their continued love and care during his stay the past eight years with special thanks to Becky and Gail. The family is also extremely grateful for those who visited and brought him food and love during his last eight years at the Center.
Deb's life will be celebrated 10 a.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory. Burial with military honors will be in Owensboro Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday and after 9 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the American Cancer Society or The Wounded Warriors Project.