Virginia Lorene (Felts) Norton

Virginia was born December 15, 1936, in Safford, the third child and first daughter of Herman “Dude” Felts and Elsie Lorene Ramsey. When she arrived, she joined older brothers Earl and Jack, and would later be a big sister to Betty, Joan, and John. Throughout the years she was especially close to her sisters. They were all blessed with beautiful voices and as kids and teenagers they could be heard harmonizing and singing together.

Virginia grew up in Cactus and attended Safford Schools where she made many life-long friends. On February 14, 1954, she married Thad Cluff Norton. This marriage was the beginning of a fifty-four-year love story on this earth and it continues eternally today. Five children were born to this union: Debbie, Vicki, Tammy, Wade, and Russ. After living a short time in Safford, Phoenix and Solomonville, she and Thad made their home in Central where they would spend the next 50 years.

Virginia loved her family and supported them in all they did. She was a wonderful cook who spent many hours baking and canning. She was also a talented seamstress who sewed wedding dresses for all three of her daughters, two of them six weeks apart. She worked for a time at the nursing home and then went to work for Dr. Ivan L. Shiflet, first as a dental assistant and then in the front office. She loved the job and the people she worked with. When Dr. Shiflet retired, Dr. Alvin Coon took over the practice and she worked in the same office for him until her own retirement.

Virginia was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and she had a strong and unwavering testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. She willingly served in many callings throughout her life. But the one she loved most was the time she and Thad spent together in the Central Ward nursery with the little ones.

Virginia passed peacefully on Thursday morning with all of her children at her side. She was preceded in death by: her loving husband, Thad; grandson, Jared Claridge; parents, Dude and Elsie Felts; her brother, Earl Felts; brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Sandra Felts; and brother, John Henry Felts.

She is survived by: her children, Debbie and Chris Claridge, Vicki and Steve Clonts, Tammy and Loren Rogers, Wade and Amy Norton, and Russ and Jani Norton; 28 grandchildren, 82 great-grandchildren, 13 great-great grandchildren, and her sisters Betty Clonts and Joan John all of whom she loved with all her heart.

Funeral services for Virginia will be conducted Saturday, April 6, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Fort Thomas Chapel. Concluding services will follow in the Central Cemetery.

Family will receive friends Saturday morning, April 6, 2019, from 8:30 a.m. until 9:45 a.m., in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Fort Thomas Chapel Relief Society Room.