Bill Norton passed away near Coldwater Sunday evening following a heart attack. He was 26 years old. Funeral services were held in the Protection Church of God Wednesday afternoon with ministers L. W. Irons and Sanford Oyer officiating.
The Mennonite quartet of Billie D. Miller, Chester D. Miller, Verlin Kuhns and Vernon Loucks sang : "Sometime We'll Understand" and "That Beautiful Land." Mrs. Albert Holler was the pianist.
Casket bearers were Lennie Jacobs, Dick Young, Jerry Young, Richard Evans, Clifton Koehn and Wallace Jantzen.
Interment was in the Protection cemetery.
Obituary
William Robert Norton was born at Okeene, Oklahoma, April 20, 1929 and departed this life August 28, 1955 near Coldwater, Kansas at the age of 26 years, 4 months and 8 days.
His untimely death was caused by a heart attack. Since the age of 13 his heart had been badly impaired as a result of scarlet fever.
In 1942 he moved with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Norton and their family, from his childhood home in Oklahoma to the Protection community.
He was united in marriage to Miss Bette Lacey of Coldwater May 23, 1952. Since that date he and his wife have resided in Protection, Ashland and Coldwater.
In 1947 he was converted to Christ in the Church of God under the ministry of the Rev. Delbert Tetrick and has continued as a member of the local congregation.
He leaves to mourn his departure, the widow, Bette Norton, Coldwater; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Norton and a sister, Wanda, Protection; a sister, Mrs. Wendel Ferrin, Wilmore; and a brother, Donald, stationed at Lackland Air Base, San Antonio, Texas; his paternal grandmother, Mrs. L. A. Norton, Okeene, Okla.; his maternal grandfather, Mr. Carl Grauberger, Okeene, Okla.; aunts, uncles and many other relatives and friends.
Also see:
Robert Emmett Norton, father of William Robert Norton
Gladys Leota (Grauberger) Norton, mother of William Robert Norton
Robert Emmett & Gladys Leota (Grauberger) NORTON.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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At left: Bill Norton holding his nephew Darrell Ferrin at the Norton's house in Protection, Kansas, about 1953. Photo from the collection of Alice (Norton) Ferrin.