Harold G. Norton

Harold G. Norton, 87, of Coatesville, passed away on Wednesday, July 1, 2009, surrounded by his family at the Hickory House Nursing Home of Honey Brook. He was the beloved husband of Betty J. Gillespie Norton, with whom he shared 69 years of marriage.

Born in Coatesville, he was the son of the late Emma May Shirk and Gorman Norton. An area resident his entire life, he was a 1939 graduate of the Coatesville Area High School. He served honorably in the US Army during WWII in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. After his discharge, he owned and operated the former Hub Restaurant in Parkesburg from 1946 to 1949. He then worked as a Field Manager of Chubb Life Insurance of America of West Chester, retiring over 27 years ago.

Harold was a member of the Brandywine-Goddard Lodge F.& A.M. #383 of Coatesville, the Reading Consistory and the Rajah Temple, achieving the rank of a 33rd Degree Mason. He was a former President of the Friends of Hibernia Park, and belonged to the camping clubs, Friends on Wheels and Coachmen 220. Harold was a member of the Faith Community Church in Parkesburg.

He is survived, in addition to his wife, by three children: T. Barry Norton, and wife Carol, of Coatesville and their children, Troy Norton, Scott Norton and Kim Kowatch; Betty Jeanne Smith, widow of the late Donald, of Parkesburg, and their children, Karen Pratt, Sue Smith and Tom Smith; Kathleen McMichael, widow of the late Danie, of Coatesville, and their children, Molly McMichael and Jeffrey McMichael; 12 great grandchildren and two brothers, Mylin Norton of CA, and Roland Norton of Gap.

The Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 2 p.m. at the Wilde Funeral Home, 434 Main St., Parkeburg, followed by interment in the Upper Octorara Cemetery of Parkesburg. Family and friends are invited to attend the viewing, which will be held at the Funeral Home from 1 p.m. until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Faith Community United Methodist Church, 4209 W. Lincoln Hwy., Parkesburg, PA 19365.

Online condolences can be posted at www.wildefuneralhome.com