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Obituary for Donald Don R. Norton, Sr.
Donald (Don) R. Norton, Sr. (1937-2021)
Don, age 83, passed away at home on January 28, 2021 with his wife of 27 years, Donna (Eichorn) Norton by his side. Don was born on March 12, 1937 in Evanston, IL and adopted by Roy D. and Francis (Frey) Norton.
Don served in the U.S. Navy as a hospital corpsman. After his military service, he attended Knox College where he was awarded one of five nationwide fellowships for academic achievement to attend University of Colorado at Boulder. He graduated with honors with a Ph.D. in Political Science. Don went back to Illinois to become a professor at Western Illinois university where he became a volunteer with the Young Republicans Club. Based on his leadership with the Young Republicans, U.S. Congressman Paul Findley invited him to be his administrative assistant in his Washington, D.C. office. When a vacancy opened in the Springfield District Office, Don went back to Springfield to run the district office. After 16 years with Congressman Findley, Don became the Marketing Director for the Illinois Department of Agriculture, followed by the Director of the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council, and Executive Director of the Illinois rural Bond Bank, a new agency he initiated. In 1994, he became the Director of the Southern Illinois Office of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. In retirement Don was owner/operator of the Bay City General Store and Lodging in Bay City, Pope county, Illinois, a place he dearly loved.
Don and his first wife Mary (Terry) Norton have two children, Theresa Norton Greco, of Springfield, Illinois and Donald R. Norton, Jr (and wife Beth) of Harrison, TN. Theresa has two sons, Joseph and Alex Greco. Donald has three girls Kaiti, Lauren and Madison (and husband Noah). Don has a stepson Jeremy Foy and his daughter, Sadie. Don was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Nancy Norton Phillips.
Aly Funeral Home is in charge of cremation and a Celebration of Life will be held in the spring at the Bay City General Store.
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