Patricia Norton

Patricia Ray Osborn Norton of Seguin passed away on January 8th, 2012 at the age of 76. A memorial service will be held at the Life Enrichment Center of Faith Lutheran Church at 3:30 pm on Wednesday, January 11th. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the TLU Band: TLU Music Dep't, Att'n: Beth Bronk, 1000 W. Court St., Seguin, TX 78155.

Pat was born on October 18th, 1935, and adopted in March of 1936 in Dallas, Texas, by Howard C. and Marcia G. Osborn. Pat grew up in San Antonio, Texas and graduated from Harlandale High School in 1953 where she was in the All State Band for 4 years. In 1956 Pat graduated from the University of Texas with a Bacholer's Degree in Music. In September of 1955, at Alamo Stadium, Pat met her future husband, Roy Norton. They were married August 4, 1956.

Pat was one of the few female band directors in Texas at that time. The music profession was dominated by men and she was turned down for several band director positions because she was a woman. In September of 1967, Pat became the band director at Marion High School. in 1982, after 15 years in Marion, Pat was hired as the band director in Luling, where she taught for 6 years. In 1988, Pat moved to Samuel Clemens High School in Schertz as assistant director and remained there for 5 years. Pat spent the last 5 years of her career teaching band at St. James Catholic School in Seguin. In 2002, Pat was inducted into the Texas Bandmasters' Assocation Hall of Fame. Upon retirement, Pat spent much of her time judging UIL band contests and playing in the Corpus Christi Wind Symphony and the Hill Country Symphonic Band. Pat loved playing the oboe and tuba the most of all instruments.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Roy Edward Norton, and her parents, Howard C. Osborn and Marcia Osborn Mills. She is survived by her children: Sandra Jean "Sandy" Ranft and husband George, Sharon Gayle "Shary" Gonzalez; Patrick Edward "Skip" Norton and wife Brenda, Carol Jeanette Krueger and husband Carl "Rusty" Krueger ; 9 grandchildren: Dale Ranft and wife Rachael, Katie Ranft, Nicholas Jaroszewski and wife Kasey, Kandace Krueger, Melissa Norton, Danielle Norton, Korey Krueger, Matthew Gonzalez, and Hannah Norton; 2 great grandchildren: Gray and Jasper Ranft.

The family would like to thank VistaCare Hospice as well as all of her dear friends and for their love and support.