WILLIAM I. NORTON, Sr.
Electrical Engineer at PSNH
Was involved in community theater                                                     

Gilford-----William I. Norton, Sr., 83, of 32 Sleeper Hill Road died at the Lakes Region General Hospital, Laconia on Saturday, October 20, 2007.

Mr. Norton was born November 23, 1923 in Dover, N.H. the son of Leslie E. and Marjorie (Lunt) Norton.  He was raised in Rollinsford and graduated from Dover High School in 1941 and from U. N. H. in 1948.  While at U.N.H., he was a member of the R. O. T. C Program.  He served in the U. S. Army during WWII and earned a Bronze Star for Valor. 

Mr. Norton lived in Rochester for several years before moving to Gilford in 1962.  He was employed as an electrical engineer by Public Service of New Hampshire from 1948 and Division Engineer until his retirement in 1984. 

Mr. Norton was a former member of the Dover and Laconia Unitarian Universalist Society.

Mr. Norton was a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., a member of the National Association of Railroad Passengers, the National Rifle Association and the Concord American Legion.  He was a former vice president of the Belknap Mill and was a member of the Garrison Players in Dover and the Street Car Co., Laconia.  `  

Mr. Norton was a member of the Laconia Rotary Club for many years and will be remembered for his beautiful singing voice at their meetings.

Survivors include his wife of sixty years, Gail (Hanagan) Norton, a son, William I. Norton, Jr. and his wife, Elaine, of Sellersburg, Indiana; a daughter, Heidi Norton Arnold and her husband, Bob, of Bow; six grandchildren, Ben Rice of Concord, Jeremy Rice of Boulder, Colorado, Jeni Norton of Florida, Zack Norton and Macy Norton both of Sellersburg, Indiana and Shane Norton of Georgia; two great grandchildren, Brady Rice and Vanessa Rice, both of Concord; a brother, John F. Norton of Rollinsford and many nephews and nieces.  In addition to his parents, Mr. Norton was predeceased by a son, Eric P. Norton, in 1974.

There will be no calling hours.

 A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, October 27, 2007 at 2:00PM in the Carriage House of the Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH.

Burial will follow in the family lot in Pine Grove Cemetery, Gilford, NH.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Wildcat Athletics Council/UNHF and reference “UNH Football” in the memo section of the check, and mail to Brenda Holt-Mullaney, UNH Foundation, Elliott Alumni Center, 9 Edgewood Road, Durham, NH 03824.  The University of New Hampshire Football Program will benefit directly from gifts made in Mr. Norton’s memory.

Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH is in charge of the arrangements