Obituary: Phil Norton, 91, Formerly of Naugatuck

NORTON, Philander (Phil), 91, died peacefully at Epoch Rehabilitation Center, Weston, MA, on November 15, 2012. Phil and his wife, Betty (McFarland, deceased), had lived at Friendship Village in Trotwood, OH until September 2011. Phil was born to Margaret (Jennings) and Philander Norton in Port Washington, NY. As a youth, he enjoyed playing the piano and baseball and spent summers at the family cottage on Seneca Lake in New York. After graduating from Phillips Exeter Academy and Wesleyan University, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Brazil during World War II as a meteorologist. He met Betty at a YMCA dance in Dayton, OH while he was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and expressed gratitude throughout his life for that chance meeting. They were married on September 14, 1946 at Victory Methodist Church in Dayton and moved to Naugatuck, CT, where they raised five children. He worked at Uniroyal as a statistician and found time to be an eager participant in his children's lives.

He was active in the Naugatuck Congregational Church in many roles, served as a Deacon and especially enjoyed being a member of the choir. He served as a YMCA swim team coach and volunteered in a variety of capacities in Little League. After Phil retired, they moved to Dayton where Betty and Phil cared for her mother until her death in 1991. They stayed in the family home until 2008, when they moved to Friendship Village. Phil was an active member of Shiloh Church, which included serving as a Deacon and singing in the choir, and received several awards for his service.  He worked for H&R Block for several years and volunteered as a tutor in the Building Bridges program. He could often be found transporting others who were unable to do so. He and Betty enjoyed morning swims at Princeton Pool and he continued enjoying physical activity until his death. He and Betty saw much of the United States through numerous trips to visit their children and families in Alaska, New Mexico, California, Virginia, Hawaii, and Massachusetts.

Phil is survived by his children, David (and wife Linda), Peggy, Michael, Barry (and wife Soreli), and Robert (and wife Rita); grandchildren, Gregory (and wife Katherine), Douglas, Paul, Pammie (and husband Russell Betts), Michelle (and husband Gabriel Aranda), Rachel, Adele and Isabella. He leaves 10 great-grandchildren. His brother, James Norton (and wife Katherine) predeceased him. He is also survived by his sister, Jeannette (and  husband Maynard Bartram), and brothers-in-law, Keith McFarland, and Donald McFarland (and wife Mary [Hofferbert]). Don and Mary were especially helpful to Phil and Betty over the last few years. Visiting hours will be from 2:00 to 4:00 pm on Saturday, December 15, 2012, at Baker-Hazel & Snider Funeral Home, 5555 Philadelphia Drive, Dayton followed by a funeral service there at 4:00 pm. Burial will be at the convenience of the family in Dayton Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to the Souper Bowl or Heifer International Living Gift Market. Both are at Shiloh Church, 5300 Philadelphia Drive, Dayton, OH 45414. To leave an online condolence message or get directions, please visit: www.bakerhazelsnider.com