William Watson Norris

Bill Norris was called home by the Lord on May 19, 2024 at his home in Palmdale. Bill was born on December 3, 1931 in Okeene, Oklahoma to Alva John Norris and Alena Watson Norris. He was the youngest of 3 children. They lived by his grandparents Dr. John and Hattie Norris with goats, dogs and ponies. Bill loved climbing trees as a boy. He was stuck ill with Scarlett Fever and his family was concerned if he would live. In 1938 they packed up their car and moved cross country to Los Angeles during the Dust Bowl days. Bill speaks of all the prejudice they had to deal with being an Okie. Bill’s love for music had him playing flute in the Garvey Intermediate School Band. In 1943 Bill joined Boy Scouts and started a legacy for Boy Scouts. Bill became an Eagle Scout in 1948. He also became an Explorer in high school and earned the Ranger Award. In 1948 he met the love of his life Louise Catherine Wayt in Orchestra. They both played the flute. Throughout high school Bill remained 1st chair and Louise 2nd chair until Bill graduated. He attended 1 year of college and then joined the US Air Force. On November 29, 1951 while he was home on leave Bill and Louise eloped with his brother and sister in law John and Jean Norris standing with them. Bill then served in the Korean Conflict as a truck mechanic at the Air Base closest to the front. He tells stories of the freezing cold and being attacked. He was discharged in 1955 with multiple medals. Bill worked for Goldwyn studios with his dad until he was hired by Pacific Telephone & Telegraph. On June 2, 1958 their first child Julie Louise Norris was born and adopted. On September 24, 1960 John William Norris was born and adopted. They moved from Alhambra to Monterey Park once they had kids. Eventually they moved to Diamond Bar in 1965 and remained there until Bill’s retirement from the phone company in 1987. Bill and Louise followed their children and grandchildren to the Antelope Valley in 1989. Bill then got a job with maintenance at the Keppel School District. He remained there until he retired from job #2. He then worked for Littlerock Home N Ranch until he retired to take care of his beloved wife Louise in 2013. He took care of maintenance for every church he was ever active with. He also served as member of Board the Trustees for the different Methodists churches where they were members.

Over the years Bill and Louise traveled the world. As WWII students Bill and Louise spent a lot of time traveling in Europe. They took their children and Bill’s parents with them to Hawaii in 1970. They took their children and spouses to Australia and New Zealand in 2001 to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

Over the course of Bill’s life he was in Boys Scouts for almost 80 years. He served as the head of Pacific Bell telephone Science Explorer Post 809X for over 20 years. He earned the prestigious William Spurgeon Award in 1973. He earned the Silver Beaver in 1984 for Boy Scouts. He served as Scoutmaster of Troop 777 in Diamond Bar and Troop 444 Palmdale. He served on the District Committee and as head of the Eagle Board in the Antelope Valley for over 30 years. In 2019 He was awarded the highest award in National Eagle Scout Association “Outstanding Eagle Scout Award”. Bill helped over 800 boys become Eagle Scouts in his lifetime.

Bill’s devotion to God and Our Lord Jesus Christ was lived out in simple servanthood to God, family, community and Nation. Bill was ready to go home to Heaven and be with Jesus, his beloved wife Louise, his parents, his brother and sister in law John and Jean, his sister and brother in law Wilma and Oren Gartung, and his grandson Justin Wotasik. Bill is survived by His daughter Julie (Gary) Wotasik, John (Terri) Norris, 7 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, sister-in-law Jean Wayt Perry and numerous nephews and nieces. Bill said the only things that last are the things done for God. In his last days he sang a song from the 1940’s, “Where could I go but to the Lord.”

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday June 22, 2024 at 10 am. The service will be at Cornerstone Church of Littlerock 8533 East Ave T in Littlerock, CA. If you wish to give a memorial gift the family has selected “West Coast Classical” an orchestra here in the Antelope Valley. They train up young people to love music. Your donation would go to musical instruments, scholarship for young people and music costs. https://www.westcoastclassical.org/support