Capt. Thomas Oral Norton, Jr.
Thomas Oral Norton Jr., 89, of Cape Girardeau, died Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.
He was born on March 14, 1929, in Neely’s Landing, Mo., the son of Thomas and Grace Rumfelt Norton, Sr.
He and Peggy Rendleman Norton were married on March 4, 1951, in Piggott, Ark.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy; a son, Thomas III; and his parents.
Mr. Norton lived, graduated and met his love in Grand Tower. They moved to Wolf Lake into a house he built himself. They later moved to East Cape Girardeau, and then on to Gordonville, Mo., Jackson, Mo., and he finally moved to Cape Girardeau.
They loved to travel with family and friends, and had a place in Florida where they loved to snowbird in the winter. He dedicated his life to taking care of his family and friends.
He served his country as a first sergeant in the Heavy Mortar Company in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
He was a riverboat captain and worked on the river his entire career. Mr. Norton was a member of the Zion United Methodist Church in Gordonville, Mo.
Many months after Peggy’s death, an old high school friend reached out to offer condolences and comfort. Those conversations turned into a rekindled friendship that ended up in a marriage of over 12 years that would last until his death.
Survivors include his wife Aldeane; three daughters, Jana Norton of Paducah, Susan Floyd of Millersville and Becky Foster of Perryville; a son, Jason Norton of Webster Groves, Mo.; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sisters; a brother; many nieces and nephews; and many friends.
Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, at Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna, with Bill Littrell and the Rev. Joel Kidwell officiating.
Interment was in the Jonesboro Cemetery. Graveside military rites were conducted by Carroll P. Foster Post No. 3455 of the VFW in Anna and the Illinois Army National Guard honor team of Marion.
Memorials can be made to the building fund of the Zion United Methodist Church in Gordonville, to a local VFW post or to the American Diabetes Association.
To view the obituary and to leave online condolences for the family, visit www.rendlemanhilemanfh.com.
Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna was in charge of arrangements.