William Norton

Augusta, GA – William F. “Bill” Norton, 77, loving husband of 53 years to Virginia Chiapella Norton, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, December 21, 2022.
Bill was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. He was attending the University of Tennessee and serving as editor of campus paper The Daily Beacon when transfer student Virginia joined the staff. After he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at Tennessee, Bill enlisted in the United States Army Infantry. He and Virginia married after he graduated from Officer Candidate School. He later served in Vietnam as a first lieutenant and was awarded the Bronze Star.
In the words of Bill Kirby, his colleague at The Augusta Chronicle, Bill “served the calling of journalism for almost half a century.” Bill was an all-around newspaperman from reporting to various editing roles, working on the news, sports, features and business staffs. He was handy with graphics and photography as well. He worked for the Memphis Commercial Appeal, the Nashville Banner and The Courier-Journal of Louisville before joining The Chronicle. He was especially proud of his time at The Courier-Journal’s Sunday Magazine, including articles he wrote on the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, whitewater rafting in West Virginia and the Kentucky Derby Museum.
Bill’s character was marked by authentic humility; he lived to serve others and loved to learn. He was a gifted writer and editor with a vast store of knowledge, but was always gentle when sharing that knowledge with others. His lifelong love of puns paid off when he won prizes for headline writing (true to form, he took his family out for a nice dinner with his winnings). His years of serving as a Boy Scout leader, a Kairos Prison Ministry team member, a church lector and lector organizer, and a member of Augusta’s Alleluia Community blessed his family, friends, and others.
Family members in addition to his wife include his daughters, Katy Norton Carroll (Tom), Dora Norton Lockhart (Doug) and Teri Norton; son, Fred Norton (Mimi); grandchildren, Deirdre Carroll, Otis Norton Tsang, and Bee Norton Tsang; and sisters, Sarah Norton Morgan (Jim) and Becky Norton Zanone. He is preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Martha Norton; his grandson, Liam Carroll; his son, Patrick, and daughter, Marie; and his brother-in-law, Curtis Zanone.
Visitation and rosary will be held on Tuesday, December 27, 2022, at 6:00 P.M. at Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Road, Augusta, Georgia. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at 10:00 A.M. at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church at 720 Telfair St., Augusta, Georgia, with Fr. Jacob Almeter, celebrant. Interment will follow in the Alleluia Cemetery in Dearing, Georgia.
Memorial donations may be made to Kairos Prison Ministry of Georgia at: https://www.kairosofgeorgia.org/ .
Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907, (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com