Bio for Richard Arthur "Dick" Norton (1933-1989) Birth:  December 7, 1933, Marshfield, Wisconsin Death:  June 16, 1989, Ottawa, LaSalle Co. Illinois Parents:  Arthur Norton and Bessie Lyons Siblings:  Ronnie Dale 1st Marriage:  July 7, 1956, LaRose, Illinois Spouse:  Edith R. Tucker Children: 1.Nancy Jo (Piper) 2.Judy Ann (Harlan) 2nd Marriage:  June 26, 1965 Spouse:  Margery Gladys Grooms Children: 1.Richard Arthur 2.Michael Allen Dick grew up in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.  The jobs were very limited and he didn't want to be a lumber jack, so Dick joined the Air Force at the age of 17. While in the service, he worked as a jet mechanic. During his enlistment, he was stationed in  Rome, New York.  While there, he became friends with Bob Stoens, who lived in Toluca, Illinois.  Dick would go with Bob to his home in Toluca when they were on leave. The winter of 1955, Bob had gotten orders to go to Korea. Bob and Dick had come home on leave to Toluca for Christmas before Bob was to go over seas.   Bob's sister, Edith was working at the garment factory in Toluca and had been paid in silver dollars as a Christmas gift. They had been told by someone that some of the silver dollars were very valuable, so Bob and his friend Dick, decided to drive to Henry to a dealer to have the value of the coins assessed. They took off one evening for Henry with Dick driving Bob's Plymouth. What they didn't know, was while they had been away, the county had widened the road on the Lacon hill, but it was still narrow at the bottom of the hill. Since, Dick was from Wisconsin, he was unfamiliar with the roads anyway. When they got to the bottom of the hill, Dick went off the road. During the accident, Bob was thrown from the car. They were taken to St. Francis hospital in Peoria. Dick's face was cut up from glass but otherwise was unhurt. The doctors thought Bob's leg was broken, but he kept complaining that his neck hurt. It wasn't until two days later, that they discovered that his neck was broken! Both Dick and Bob Stoens were then stationed in Chanute Air Force Base.   Dick retired from the Air Force as a Staff Sageant in 1955 and went to work at Ulrich Motor Company in Roanoke, Illinois.    During his visits to Toluca, Dick and Bob's sister Edith became very close.  Edith Stoens and Richard Arthur Norton were married at the Presbyterian Church in LaRose, Illinois on July 7, 1956. After their marriage, Dick and Edith continued living in and around Toluca for several years. Dick continued working for Ulrick's and was also in the Airforce reserves.  He had hoped that they would get jet planes at the Peoria,Illinois and he could go there as a mechanic. Unfortunately, they never did and Dick left the reserves about a year later.   By 1959, Dick and Edith had moved to Ottawa, Illinois where Richard went to work at Burns Machine Company. Dick and Edith had two children.   Nancy Jo was born on March 18, 1957. Their second daughter, Judy Ann was born on September 17, 1959.   Edith and Richard continued living in Ottawa for several more years. Their marriage was shaky though and by 1962, they had separated.   They divorced in 1963.   Dick had met Margery Grooms and they were married on  June 26, 1965 in Ottawa, Illinois. Dick and Marg had two children, Michael and Richard.   They continued living in Ottawa, Illinois until about 1988.  They then bought a home in Grandridge, Illinois.  During this time, Dick continued to work at Burns Machine Company.  By then, he had moved up in the company to a foreman's position.  Dick was a member of the Moose Lodge for many years.  He was also a big Green Bay Packer and White Socks fan. Dick began to have problems with his health and in 1988 had surgery because of blocked arteries in the neck.  On June 16, 1989, just before Father's Day, Dick had a massive aneurysm at his home in Granridge, Illinois.  He was pronounced dead at Ottawa Community Hospital in Ottawa, Illinois.  After his death, he was buried in the Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery, Ottawa, Illinois. --------------------------------------------------------------------- UGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Piper