Willis Norton Obituary (1932 - 2024)

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, with the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing”. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 Willis Clyde Norton Jr. (WC, Dub, Willis, Dad, Daddy, Grandpa, Papa, Peepaw, Coach Norton) went to be with his Lord and Savior on October 20, 2024 in Houston, Texas. WC was born on March 16, 1932 in DeKalb, Texas and grew up in his favorite place Mena, Arkansas. WC graduated from Mena High School in 1950 where he lettered in every sport. Football was his favorite (he was a ’flanker’), and was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan especially during the Tom Landry years. After high school, he immediately served on the front lines of Korea in the Army where he was Battery 937th Field Artillery, Second Lieutenant. He served during the Korean War from 1951-1953. Upon returning from Korea, WC attended Southern Arkansas State where he was in the Army Reserves (First Sargeant), played football and was in the Engineering Club. He transferred to the University of Arkansas where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 1958. Upon graduation, WC got his first job in Dallas, Texas at Chance Vought Aircraft, a company that was going to be a part of the race to the moon. He attended SMU Law School intending to further his education when he was offered a role to be Branch Manager at IBM in Houston. A move to Houston led him to his ‘lovely wife Linda, whose love and caring kept our family together’. WC and Linda were married after a 4-month courtship on September 17, 1965 and have been married for 59 years. When asked what was the best thing that ever happened to him by his granddaughter Lauren just last year, he pointed to Linda. She was his best friend, partner and ultimately, caregiver, in all things for the rest of his life. She was truly his best thing. WC was an entrepreneur and founded Norton Computer Corporation while working side by side with his son, John, and taught students at Shell Oil until his retirement in 1995. WC and Linda have been devoted and committed members of Tallowood Baptist Church for 57 years since 1967. WC was a founder, teacher and director for the Praisers and Joshua Classes for 50 years. Tallowood will not be the same without his leadership. He was an avid reader and storyteller both, sharing spiritual and life lessons with humor for us all. He was a great Dad as the leader of our family, guiding us through all the ups and downs of growing up. He was patient, loving, and steadfast. He was a man of few words but those he used were poetic and often with a joke thrown in for levity. He was so much fun too. He coached sports teams, cheered his kids from the stands and even served as a Ghoul Patrol at the Nottingham Elementary Halloween Carnival. WC is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Linda Leyendecker Norton, his children John Norton (and Granddaughter Nicole Forster and husband Brandon), Debbie (Norton) Zollars and Son-in-Law Terry Zollars (and Grandson Jason Zollars and wife Jennifer Zollars, Great Granddaughter Leah Mayer, and Granddaughter Stacie Zollars), Robin (Norton) Blanchette and Son-in-Law Raymond Blanchette III, (and Grandson Christian Ahearn, Granddaughter Lauren Ahearn, Grandson Raymond Blanchette IV and wife Elise, Great Grandson Raymond Blanchette V, Granddaughter Tiphanie (Blanchette) Andrews and husband Spencer), and Cheryl Norton and Kyle Hobbs. W.C. is also survived by his brother Wayne Norton , sister-in-law Georganne Norton, brother-in-law Floyd MacKenzie and many, many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly. He has been greeted in Heaven by his parents Willis Clyde Sr. and Leola Norton, his parents-in-law John and Margie Leyendecker, sisters Bonnie Mackenzie and LaWanda Herman, sister-in-law Margo (Leyendecker) Larabee, daughter-in-law Sylvia Norton, and Grandog Libby Lu Norton. Services to celebrate WC’s well-lived life will be at 11am on Friday. October 25, 2024 at Tallowood Baptist Church (555 Tallowood Drive, Houston, TX). Services will be live streamed on www.tallowood.org/watch. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Tallowood Baptist Church (www.tallowood.org) and Houston Hospice (https://www.houstonhospice.org/donate/). I stood there, my duffel bag over my arm, gazing down that narrow little lane. The honeysuckles were no longer green, turned brown by the icy fingers of winter. No matter. As I stood looking down that lane, waves of emotions swept over me. Emotions so strong that I had to set my duffel bag down because of the weight. As I rounded the corner at the end of the lane, I saw the mulberry tree first, then Mother. I dropped my duffel and raced toward the house. Then we were all together. Mother, Daddy, Wayne and LaWanda, all hugging, laughing and crying. The soldier boy had come home. Excerpt from “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”, short story written by WC Norton about his final trip home from the Korean War