Robert Norman Housley, who was part of the Colton All-Star team that advanced to the Little League World Series final in 1954, died Thursday of cancer at his Grand Terrace home. He was 57. His team fell to Schenectady, N. Y., 7-5, despite a three-run homer hit by Mr. Housley. Colton started its first Little League teams only two years earlier. "My biggest thing was receiving the Little League World Series pin," he said last month. "It wasn't much, but to us, it was just a great thing." Mr. Housley treasured his home-run ball from the game, kept with other memorabilia in a trophy case at home. Colton celebrated Norman Housley Day Aug. 27, the 45th anniversary year of the big game. In 1956, his brother, Ted, was on Colton's World Series ball team, which lost in the semifinals. Mr. Housley earned a dozen sports letters in football, basketball and baseball at Colton High School. He played five years in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system. Later he coached Little League teams for many years. Mr. Housley , who was born in San Bernardino, was a lifelong resident of San Bernardino County. He lived in Colton 51 years before he moved to Grand Terrace six years ago. He taught typing and coached sports at Colton Junior High and later was a maintenance worker for Colton Joint Unified School District 14 years until he retired this year. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Monday at Sacred Heart Church in Redlands. Friends may call from 5 until 7 p.m. Sunday at Emmerson-Bartlett Mortuary in Redlands. Interment will be in Hermosa Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Colton. He is survived by his wife, Teresa; two stepdaughters, Carol Antuna of Redlands and Denise Vargas of Mentone; two sons, Rick of Colton and Ken of Murrieta; a stepson, Ben Avila III of Mentone; nine grandchildren; his mother, Nellie of Colton; and a brother, Ted of Colton. The family suggests memorial contributions to Ken Hubbs Little League in Colton or Sacred Heart Catholic School in Redlands.
Norm was my mom's cousin. His father Robert Bruce was my Grandma's younger brother. He was a great guy and is truly missed.
Robert Norman Housley, who was part of the Colton All-Star team that advanced to the Little League World Series final in 1954, died Thursday of cancer at his Grand Terrace home. He was 57. His team fell to Schenectady, N. Y., 7-5, despite a three-run homer hit by Mr. Housley. Colton started its first Little League teams only two years earlier. "My biggest thing was receiving the Little League World Series pin," he said last month. "It wasn't much, but to us, it was just a great thing." Mr. Housley treasured his home-run ball from the game, kept with other memorabilia in a trophy case at home. Colton celebrated Norman Housley Day Aug. 27, the 45th anniversary year of the big game. In 1956, his brother, Ted, was on Colton's World Series ball team, which lost in the semifinals. Mr. Housley earned a dozen sports letters in football, basketball and baseball at Colton High School. He played five years in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system. Later he coached Little League teams for many years. Mr. Housley , who was born in San Bernardino, was a lifelong resident of San Bernardino County. He lived in Colton 51 years before he moved to Grand Terrace six years ago. He taught typing and coached sports at Colton Junior High and later was a maintenance worker for Colton Joint Unified School District 14 years until he retired this year. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Monday at Sacred Heart Church in Redlands. Friends may call from 5 until 7 p.m. Sunday at Emmerson-Bartlett Mortuary in Redlands. Interment will be in Hermosa Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Colton. He is survived by his wife, Teresa; two stepdaughters, Carol Antuna of Redlands and Denise Vargas of Mentone; two sons, Rick of Colton and Ken of Murrieta; a stepson, Ben Avila III of Mentone; nine grandchildren; his mother, Nellie of Colton; and a brother, Ted of Colton. The family suggests memorial contributions to Ken Hubbs Little League in Colton or Sacred Heart Catholic School in Redlands.
Norm was my mom's cousin. His father Robert Bruce was my Grandma's younger brother. He was a great guy and is truly missed.
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