He leaves the love of his life - his wife Susan; his sons Jerry (Dana), Sean (Tricia), Randall (Candy), and his daughter Angela; his grandsons, Ryan (Sara), Wayde, Rusty, Kilian, and Layton; his grand-daughters Kali, Brittany, and Michelle; and his great grand-daughter Kayla. He is remembered by his mother-in-law Lillian Bennett (whom he loved, admired, and adored); his brothers-in-law Stan and Royce (Susanna); and his sisters-in-law Laurie and Lyna. He is remembered and loved by many nieces and nephews.
Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Ross and Beulah Norton, his brothers Cecil, Bill, Ben, and Russ; his sisters Wilma, Wanda, Beverly, and Bernita; and his daughter, Michelle.
Robert Lee Norton – better known as “Big Bob” or “Bobber” (as his mother-in-law calls him) came into this world on August 6th 1944 weighing a mere 5 lbs. The baby of 9 siblings, he grew-up in Valley Falls, Kansas – a small rural community where farming is the mainstay. His Mother was a fabulous cook - so with Bob eating all those fresh home cooked mid-western meals – he grew to a strapping 6’5” strong mans-man!! He loved going hunting in Kansas and continued that passion until his last couple of years.
During his younger years, while still in school, he looked forward to the mid-west Harvest every summer. They would travel from farm to farm across many rural communities working the wheat harvest. It was hard hot work but Bob loved it.
When he was 18 years old he enlisted into the Kansas National Guard and subsequently re-enlisted into the United States Army. He served his country for 7+ years and is fiercely proud of his military commitment. He never tired of telling his military stories and would relate them as if it were yesterday.
While in the Army he married, and together they had a daughter Michelle, a son Randall, and a step-son Jerry. He loved all three and spent as much time as possible with them. He enjoyed talking race cars with Jerry and deer hunting with Randy. He mourned the loss of his daughter Michelle.
Yet, as life happens, in 1974 Bob relocated to Santa Ana, California to start his new chapter.
Bob was an Industrial Mechanic at Kerr Glass in Santa Ana, California, and subsequently, until retirement, with Kimberly-Clark Corp. in Fullerton, California.
Santa Ana is where Bob really delved into his passions – writing and singing his music. And this is where he met Susan, the love of his life for almost 40 years. He asked her young children, Sean and Angela, for their Mom’s hand in marriage and they both were thrilled.
Bob and Susan honored their stead-fast commitment to each other throughout their journey – To have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part!
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, October 24th, 2018 at 11:00am at Acheson and Graham Garden of Prayer Mortuary, 7944 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, California 92504.
A private Interment will be at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside, California 92518.
A special thank you to Nathan Adelson Hospice for helping and supporting our family during this very hard and sad time! Thank you for caring and preserving Bob’s dignity during his final days.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AchesonandGraham.com for the Norton family.
