Dr. Norman Crosby Guith, passed peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, on June 29, 2022, after a long battle with cancer. He was 82. Norman was born August 15, 1939, in Long Beach, California to Crosby Cyril Guith and Carol Virginia Keim. He was the middle child of his older sister Carolyn and younger sister, Betty Jean. He lived in Lynwood, California most of his childhood.

Norman developed a love of the great outdoors from a very young age. In his early childhood years, he and his family would spend summers in Yosemite or Sequoia National Park. He became active in scouting around the age of 7 and continued scouting for nearly 70 years. He learned many leadership skills in Explorer Scouts which he claimed helped him throughout his life. In middle school, he learned to play the violin and in high school, played basketball. In his junior year of high school, he became very interested in automobiles and was a member of Satan's Chauffeurs Car Club. Norm and his buddies would build cars and take them drag racing at Lion's Dragstrip in Long Beach and Santa Ana Drag Strip where John Wayne Airport is now. Norman loved racing and continued to race various motorized vehicles later in life with his sons and sons-in-law.

In 1957, Norman graduated from Lynwood High School and in 1959 married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Paterson. He and Pat went on to have four children; Kelly, Kristin, Shannon, and Bradley. Norman attended Compton College and received his Bachelor's degree from Cal State Long Beach in 1965. After 5 years of college, Norm became a teacher and began his teaching career in Garden Grove Unified School District. He then decided to work toward being a principal and administrator and earned his Master's Degree, and then his Doctorate from the University of Southern California in 1975. Dr. Guith enjoyed 53 years in education and held the position of Superintendent in various districts for over 34 years. He loved participating in school board meetings and being a hands-on educator his entire career.

After earning his doctorate, Norm moved to Borrego Springs, California where he became Superintendent of schools. There he helped develop a ground school for aviation through the adult education program and his love for flying began. Norm met and married the love of his life, Melani in Borrego Springs, California in 1978 and blended their families to 6 children, including Jesse and Terra. The following year, they moved to Alta Loma and Norm took a position at Central School District in Rancho Cucamonga, followed by Alvord Unified School District in Riverside. In 1982, Lindsey was born and a few years later, they completed their family with their youngest son, Tyler. He then worked for Orange Unified School District for several years before his final move to Blythe.

Most weekends were spent at their river home in Blythe, waterskiing, boating, jet skiing, fishing, and swimming. Norm's favorite place in the world was the river. In 1992, he accepted the position of Superintendent at Palo Verde Unified School District in Blythe. He held that position for 7 years, before working for the County of Riverside, Office of Education, and Desert Center Unified School District. He then went on to become a school board member at Palo Verde Unified School District until his death.

Norm loved being active in the community and was a member of the Riverbend Volunteer Fire Department, Station #46 at Aha Quin where he proudly served the lower Colorado River Community for over two decades. Norm was active in scouting and enjoyed being the Eagle Advancement Chairman, helping young men earn their Eagle Scout and completing their Eagle projects. He was also very active in the church and served a mission with Melani as group leader of the Addiction Recovery Program for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for over 10 years. Norm and Melani also served as Ordinance Workers for the Las Vegas, Nevada Temple, driving to Las Vegas every other Friday for 8 years. Norm enjoyed being a member of The Rotary Club as well as serving as the Registrar of Voters for Riverside County, helping with the elections for many years.
Norm's most crucial role in life was being a Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather. He was extremely proud of his 8 children, 30 grandchildren, and 10 Great-grandchildren and all of their accomplishments. Norm carried a Happy Face stamp in his pocket for many years, gladly stamping children at home and church. This was how he earned the name, Grandpa Happy. His Grandchildren adored him. He always loved having a project and could easily turn a holiday weekend into a 40-hour work week. Norman was a fisher of men. He will be remembered as a friendly, kind, hardworking, selfless, giving man who served others before himself, right up until the very end of his life. He was a great example to all who knew him.

Norman is preceded in death by his Mother and Father, his In-Laws, Manuel and Barbara, and his beloved son, Jesse. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Melani, children Kelly Walters, Kristin Long (Tony), Shannon Brown (Aaron), Bradley Guith (Jennifer), Terra Wade (Steven), Lindsey Fulgham, Tyler Guith (Sarah), Sisters Carolyn Gill (Don) and Betty Knights (Evord). Norman will be truly missed, but never, ever forgotten.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, July 15, 2022, at 10:00 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 700 N. Broadway, Blythe, CA. All Are Welcome.