Obituary: Bobby Gene Norton

Bobby Gene Norton Gone Truckin' On April 15, 2006 Bobby Gene Norton, our husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend took his last courageous breath surrounded by his loving family in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was born February 11, 1932 to Howard Charles Norton and Fay Russell Norton. Bob had four sisters and one brother. He married his wife, Dora on June 2, 1956 in Elko, Nevada. Together they raised three children and three step-children. Bob was a truck driver, heavy equipment operator and worked on the Grand Coulee Dam, in Washington State. He was a man of many talents and could do anything he set his mind to. He loved fishing and camping and the outdoors. He was an expert mechanic and took loving care of all vehicles. Most of all Bob was a family man in every sense of the word - and we were grateful for his love. He had the most amazing sense of humor and he made you laugh even in your worst moments. He kept his sense of humor during his long battle with rheumatoid arthritis and it's resulting complications. No matter how bad his pain, he would tell a joke or make a funny comment. The staff at Pioneer Hospital and St. Mark's Hospital have regaled us with tales of his humor and how much they enjoyed taking care of him. He is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years; one brother, Howard (Lucy) Norton; three sisters, Barbara (Bud) Austin, Lois (Raymond) Salzetti, and Davalene (Thomas) Houston; sister-in-law, Ellen Coon; brother-in-law, Douglas Callaway. His children, Bobby Gene Norton Jr., Jeffrey (Dori) Norton, and Sandy (Lewis) Winkler, and the step-children he raised so lovingly, Danny (Dinah) Hulphers, Dennis (Carol) Hulphers, and Evelyn (Jeffery) Best; eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister, Loretta Jones and a baby daughter, Vicky Norton. Graveside services will be held Thursday, April 20th, 12:00 noon at Redwood Memorial Cemetery, 6500 South Redwood Road, with a viewing one hour prior to services in the mortuary. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be sent to the American Lung Association. The family would also like to "thank" all the physicians and nursing staff at both hospitals for their care and support, but most of all, we would like to say a special "thank-you" to Jolene Zoellner at St. Mark's Hospital. Your compassion for our father in his last hours as well as your concern for his family in their darkest hours humbled us. "He stood by his family for fifty years, and in the end, we had the honor of standing by him.