Norbert Gerald Allston
March 28, 1935 – October 8, 2022
Norbert Gerald Allston originally of Philadelphia passed away on Saturday, October 8, 2022, at the age of 87. After recent illness, Norbert died peacefully with his family around him after a short hospitalization at Phoenixville Hospital in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Norbert was born in Philadelphia on March 28, 1935, to Harry Joseph Allston and Mary Veronica (Maas) Allston. The youngest of seven children, Norbert was only nine years old when his mother died in 1944. All his siblings were at war or awaiting their loved ones to return. His sister Dorothy was a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps and would come home to Philadelphia to care for him.
In 1951, he met his sweetheart Kathleen Lyons of South Philadelphia at a school dance at St. Clements in Southwest Philadelphia. Kathleen attended West Catholic Girls High School. They dated until their wedding day on June 6, 1959, at St. Edmond’s Roman Catholic Church in South Philly.
Norbert attended Mother of Sorrows School in West Philadelphia and graduated from Saint “Tommy” More High School in 1953. Following graduation from high school, Norbert Allston enlisted in the United States Army, and was a Fort Bragg NCO Academy Distinguished Graduate. Norbert served in the United States Army and Army Reserve from 1953-1963, with the rank of E-6 Staff Sergeant and received an Honorable Discharge.
Norbert took a position with Altas Chemical Company in Wilmington, Delaware as a draftsman; and would eventually become the Director of Design and Drafting, Central Engineering Department for ICI America (formerly Atlas) where he launched the computer aided drafting (CAD) system, retiring in 1995. Norbert also owned a private design concern, Design Associates. He had several projects in the region, such as the restoration of the powder house and mills at the Hagley Museum. His crown jewel was being on the church building design team for Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Parish in the Liftwood section of North Wilmington.
Norbert had moved his family to New Castle, Delaware in 1961, then later to Darley Woods in North Wilmington where he and his wife Kathleen would raise four sons and one daughter. Norbert was a wholly devoted father and husband. He worked countless hours to provide his children a Catholic education and sent them to Salesianum, St. Mark’s, Archmere as well as Concord High School. In retirement Norbert and Kathleen moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for 18 wonderful years. Mr. & Mrs. Allston were faithful members of St. Andrew Roman Catholic Church in Myrtle Beach, where Norbert designed the Reconciliation Room dedicated in their son David Fitzgerald Allston’s (1965-1966) memory and maintained a very close relationship with their shepherd Monsignor Joseph Roth.
Norbert was famously known for traveling the world in style with his wife Kathleen and children. He was also willing to travel across the United States or to Key West in a VW Bug with tent camping supplies and no air conditioning.
Norbert was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Harry and Bill; his sisters, Margaret, Dorothy, Mary and Helen and son David Fitzgerald Allston in 1966. His wife of 54 years Kathleen, died in 2013. Norbert Gerald Allston is survived by his children Mark Patrick (Sheryl), Paul David (Valerie), Mary Kathryn Veronica Rhoades (Tom), and Peter Norbert (Tina); grandchildren Katie Hayes (Chad), Ian Stevens Allston, Sean Puzewski, Taylor Allston, and Erin Allston; and great-grandchildren Gianna Allston, Malayna Allston, Bridger Hayes and Brooks Hayes.
A visitation for Norbert is planned for Monday, October 17, 2022 @ 10 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM. Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church, 4701 Weldin Road, Wilmington, DE 19803.
Interment will be held on October 19, 2022 “promptly” @ 11 AM, at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, DE 19701.
People wishing to honor Norbert’s ongoing commitment to conquering cancer, can make donations to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society online at www.lls.com or by sending donations to PO Box 98018, Washington, DC 20090-8018.