PORTLAND — Norman Kaye Wing, 78, passed away on Sunday, May 8, 2011, at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, surrounded by family, after a courageous five-year battle with cancer.

Norman was the youngest child of the late Augustus Major Wing and Velma (Bowden) Wing Zelko. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister, Shirley (Wing) Olmstead, and his brothers, Bernard Wing and Augustus Major Wing Jr.

Norman leaves behind his beloved wife, Lorraine (Moulton) Wing whom he met early in his life. They attended junior prom together. They married on July 2, 1951, and would have celebrated their 60th anniversary this year. They raised 10 children together.

Norman was born in Gray in 1932, attended schools in Portland and was a National Guard member from 1949 to 1952. He was a cutter and lead man for Songo Shoe in Portland and played for and managed the company’s softball team. Norman worked for Brookfield Athletic, Herman Shoe, and L.L. Bean, where he retired in 1989. Norman was a champion cribbage player, loved to bowl, play pool and horseshoes and had a passion for old TV westerns. He enjoyed gardening and cooking, waking early on the weekends to start his day. He loved to sing and dance and was always the life of the party. He played Santa Claus for his grandchildren most years. He will be remembered for the days when all 12 family members piled into the station wagon and headed to DQ, picnics and Sunday rides and days at the lake where he taught his children to swim. Norman was a communicant of the St. Peters Church.

Norman also leaves behind his sister, Winifred (Wing) Drown of Falmouth; and 10 children, Dianne (Wing) Trynor, Norman Wing of Lehigh Acres, Fla., Lorraine (Wing) McDonald of Casco, Elaine (Wing) Gray of South Portland, Linda (Wing) Moody of Dresden Mills, Jeffrey Wing of Milford, N.H., Susan (Wing) Gardiner of Westbrook, Donna (Wing) Albert of Gorham, Teresa (Wing) Scanlin of Portland and Carolyn (Wing) Sivik of South Portland; 26 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Visitation was held on Wednesday, May 11, 2011, at the Dolby Funeral Chapel, 434 River Road, Windham. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Peters Church, 72 Federal Street, Portland, at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 12, 2011. Interment will be in Brooklawn Memorial Park. Following the services, there will be a celebration of Norman’s life at Events on Broadway, 729 Broadway, in South Portland.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to: Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, care of Hospice of Southern Maine, 180 U.S. Route One, Scarborough, ME 04074.