Oldest working sign language interpreter passes away at 97

[Transcript] Our country’s oldest active sign language interpreter, Norma Lewis, passed away at the age of 97.

The Daily Moth did a story on her back in June about Lewis being honored for her service in the military during World War II and we showed a video that was posted by Honor Flight Bluegrass, of Lewis signing.

Norma Lewis:

I can’t wait to see all the men and women from World War II… and again to know we will be together again after the war 75 years ago… which is very hard to believe.

Renca:

Lewis passed away on Sunday, November 24th in Louisville, Kentucky. Visitation was on December 3rd and 4th and the burial was on the 4th.

According to a local news article, Lewis started interpreting when she was the age of 9 for her deaf aunt and uncle in Connecticut and then retired in 2017 when she was 95 years old.

In 2014, she was honored for her service as an interpreter by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer.

On the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing's Facebook page, it says that Lewis was one of the very first interpreters to give deaf people a voice in the legal system and she was a mother figure and a mentor to many people.

Lewis was very active in the deaf community and never stopped her love for interpreting. Many comments on Facebook say that she was a funny person and everyone loved her.

Lewis is preceded in death by one son -- which means he died before she did -- and is survived by another son, daughter in law, and two grandchildren.

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/louisville/obituary.aspx?n=norma-d-lewis&pid=194586423&fhid=29361

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/norma-lewis-who-was-the-nations-oldest-active-sign-language-interpreter-has-died/ar-BBXp90I

https://www.facebook.com/pg/KCDHH/posts/

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