Noriko Paulk was a dreamer who loved spontaneous adventure, especially by rail. In her most authentic and free-spirited way, Noriko crossed the platform at Life’s last station to board the train for her Greatest Adventure on October 12, 2026. She was a youthful 89!

Noriko was born in Hokkaido, Japan on April 4,1937, as the youngest of four children to Ei and Takeshi Onoue. At the outbreak of World War II, her family was separated when her mother took Noriko and her brother Tsutomu to Kagoshima in the south, while her father stayed in northern Japan with the two oldest children, sister Kyoko and brother Tetsuya. The family struggled through wartime, and after their father passed away a couple of years later, the siblings were reunited when the older children joined the rest of the family in Kagoshima. Her resourceful, tenacious mother raised Noriko and her three siblings through the hardships of post-war Japan. Like many during this time, Noriko grew up with modest means, yet she spoke of her childhood fondly with sweet memories of learning about plants and herbs from her mother and collecting eggs from the chickens she considered her pets. Upon graduating high school and being somewhat of a nonconformist, she left her small hometown for the big city of Tokyo at 19. In Tokyo she began working as a key punch operator at Fuchu Air Force Base where she met her first husband with whom she had a daughter, Misao, in 1963. She later divorced, and raised her daughter singlehandedly, defying societal norms. She remarried in 1970 to Smsgt. Carl Paulk. Shortly after they wed, Carl was transferred and the family of three moved to Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City where she first assimilated to daily American culture. Their daughter Mona was born two years later. As a military wife, Noriko moved often and lived in many places across the United States, including Georgia, Ohio, Texas, and Hawaii, eventually settling in Schertz, Texas, where Carl retired from the U.S. Air Force. Noriko and Carl were married for 50 years until his death in 2020.

In her 40’s, Noriko decided to go back to school to study Neuromuscular Therapy in Austin. She bravely attended classes with students half her age, and persevered to learn medical terminology in her second language. She was encouraged and admired by her professors who recognized her resolute drive and enthusiasm to learn. With her degree she began her private practice and eventually opened the Center for Neuromuscular Wellness. Over the years Noriko helped numerous clients with her natural skill, curiosity, and highly intuitive hands. Many of those clients became good friends. As a lifelong learner she continued her education by attending as many seminars and conferences as possible that took her across the United States throughout her career. She continued her practice until she retired at the age of 85, though even in retirement she continued to treat her friends and a few special clients. 

Noriko was a creative and had many joys in her life. As a young woman in Japan she studied traditional Japanese arts such as dollmaking and ikebana. When she first immigrated to America she learned ceramics at the recreation center on base, and over the years she cultivated gardens wherever she lived. She enjoyed her morning coffee on the back porch to watch the birds that came to visit her numerous birdfeeders. She was a lifelong sewist who loved making bandanas for her granddogs, Bruno, Hazel, and Poppy, and the animal rescues she supported. She crocheted scarves and dish scrubbers, and made herbal soaps for all her friends. On most Sundays she worked on her china painting projects, and every winter she painted special ornaments for her family. 

She loved her community at Shape Up! Fitness for Women where she went to work out every week to help her stay active and agile. She always had dates on her calendar to meet friends for breakfasts and lunches. After living in America for 52 years, she proudly became an American citizen in 2022, and actively participated in every election since. She was fiercely independent, and at the risk of frustrating her daughters from time to time with her stubbornness, she held fast to her independence, her driver’s license, and her ability to walk without a cane.

There was no one more optimistic and enthusiastic than Noriko. She saw life as one big adventure with endless possibilities. She was an incredible support to her family and friends through every endeavor and she just knew you would be successful. Anyone fortunate enough to cross her path became a friend, and the luckiest were invited to tea. She saw the best in everyone and wanted you to see it, too. Noriko will be affectionately remembered by her daughters Misao Cates of Atlanta, Georgia, and Mona Paulk (Greg Malmgren) of Houston, Texas, her beloved grandchildren Truly Mei Cates and Venture Ko Cates, her brother Tsutomu Onoue, sister-in-law Tamiko Onoue, and nieces and nephews in Japan.

Noriko’s life will be celebrated next April and all who knew and loved her will be welcomed. More details to come.

Those who wish to honor Noriko can make a donation in her name to:

https://godsdogsrescue.org/ 

and 

https://happyfacespetranch.org/ 

May all those who loved Noriko be inspired to live each day guided by kindness, wonder, and curiosity!