Norman Dee Hartman

Norman Dee Hartman, 89, passed away on December 31, 2025, at Piedmont Medical Center in South Carolina, following surgical complications after a car accident.

Born on February 12, 1937, in Marion, Ohio, he was the son of Cody Hartman and Nettie Converse Hartman. Norman “Dee” is preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Lois Jean Ledford, Martha Cornelius, Velma Reinwald, brother, William Cody Hartman, and his beloved twin, Norma Lee Lick, with whom he shared a lifelong bond.

Dee lived a life marked by curiosity, charisma, and an ever-changing sense of adventure. He was a man of many passions and even more stories—some joyful, some complicated, all undeniably his. His relationships were as varied as his interests, and though he left behind some broken connections, he also left behind people who remember him with affection, humor, and a sense of understanding for the restless spirit he carried.

His hobbies were as eclectic as his personality. Dee was a British reenactment soldier with the 23rd Regiment Royal Welch Fusiliers, a bass drummer in a Scottish band, a champion archer, a competition roller skater, and an enthusiastic member of a bowling league. He loved motor vehicles of every kind—cars, motorcycles, racing, and especially car shows. Over the years he proudly owned multiple show cars, including a 1978 Corvette and several Corvairs.

Animals were a constant comfort in his life, and Dee always had a loyal dog or cat by his side. Music was another lifelong love; he enjoyed listening to it as much as he enjoyed playing his baritone ukulele. He was also active in numerous social groups, including the Kiwanis, VFW, American Legion, Hornets Nest Region, and The Gobblers dining club. With his charismatic personality and gift for conversation, he truly never met a stranger.

Dee’s working life was just as diverse. Early on, he served in the Army with the Ohio National Guard, Company C, 166th Infantry. He later worked for the Erie Lackawanna Railroad, spent two years at Goodyear Aerospace, and then transitioned into the growing world of data processing at Barberton Citizens Hospital in Barberton, Ohio. Never one to stop reinventing himself, Dee eventually pursued nursing, becoming an RN and later a Nurse Practitioner, a role in which he cared for countless patients with dedication.

Throughout his life, Dee lived in many states—Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, California, and Nevada—before retiring in Fort Mill, South Carolina. There, he spent his later years surrounded by his loved ones, friends, social clubs, car shows, good music, and the quiet companionship of his affectionate cat, Rosie, who has since been lovingly re-homed to Ohio with the family who first gifted her to him.

In his final days, Dee found comfort in returning to church and made his peace with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Per Dee’s wishes, he will be cremated, and no services will be held. Dee is to be buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Delaware, Ohio, next to his mother.

Those who knew him will remember a man who lived boldly, loved widely, and embraced life with a spirit that was uniquely his own.