Eugene (Gene) Roger Norton, 90, a lifelong resident of Guilford, died June 5, at Yale-New Haven Hospital surrounded by loving family and friends. He is survived by his wife Joan L. Stettbacher Ph.D. of Guilford. He was the son of Clarence E. Norton and Jesse Ashman Norton and was born on Aug. 25, 1924.
He graduated from Guilford High in 1942 and was known as “motorboat Gene,” with a mechanically keen mind. He was a productive worker in shop coupled with his brilliant ingeniousness. He was involved in many committees including a high school rifle club, Eagle Hose Fire Company, and model club to name a few. His high school yearbook reflects him as a class handyman.
After graduating high school, he enlisted in the Army branch of the military. He proudly served the United States in World War II and even survived the courageous storming of the beaches of Normandy. Gene’s position while serving was as a sergeant within the 560th Heavy Maintenance Tank Company in the American Theatre Campaign during and after the D-Day Invasion in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, the Ardennes, Central Europe, and European African Middle Eastern Theatre. His military occupational specialties included mechanic automotive wheel vehicle 965 and a gifted rifle sharpshooter. He was recognized for courage and valor by citations including Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Campaign Ribbon, Victory Medal, and African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon. He concluded his service on Nov. 25, 1945, when he was honorably discharged.
Following his admirable service in the military he was self-employed in various construction businesses and boating operations. At that point he became director of Guilford Public Works Department for seventeen years. He was awarded an honorary member of North Guilford Fire Company 4. His dedication is supported by the fact that he helped plan, build, and construct the recent Rescue Squad Building attached to the North Guilford fire House. After retiring from Public works he became owner and operator of Norton Corporation of New England, which embarked in doing chip sealing of roads throughout the Northeast.
Upon retiring from Norton Corporation, he and his beloved wife Joan were inseparable and had a passion for traveling to various Caribbean Islands. Throughout the following years they also enjoyed site seeing the United States in their respective motorhome. When they were not in Guilford they were snowbirds in the State of Florida staying warm together.
He will always be remembered for his dry sense of humor, a smile on his face, and a warmth throughout his heart that could heat up their log cabin. Additionally, his kindness, and generosity was undeniably apparent to everyone who had the privilege to meet him. He often could be heard cherishing his time whistling, while tinkering around in his garage. Anyone who knew Gene recognized and observed him to have an uncanny ability to fix, build, or make anything. His sincere loving qualities will be forever remembered by all who knew him.
He is survived by nine children: Linda Balzano of Guilford; Nancy Norton of Middletown, Rhode Island; Janice King of Greenforest, Arkansas; Edward Norton of Clinton; Ken Keeler of Panama City Beach, Florida; Karen Kruggel of Montgomery, Alabama; Dianne Heikkinen of Panama City Beach, Florida; Paul Keeler of Westbrook; and Louis Storo of Wallingford. He is also survived by eighteen grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and of course his loving dogs named Rambo along with winter Florida dog named Tasha.
Funeral Services will be held on June 12 at 1:30 p.m. in the North Guilford Congregational Church, 159 Ledge Hill Rd., Guilford. Burial with Military Honors will follow in North Guilford Cemetery. Contributions in Gene’s memory may be made to North Guilford Rescue Squad, Co. 5, 390 Church St., Guilford, CT 06437. Subsequently everyone is cordially invited to the North Guilford Fire House, located at 3087 Durham Rd., Guilford, for refreshments. Arrangements in care of the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church St., Guilford, CT 06437. To share a memory or leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit www.GuilfordFuneralHome.com.
