Russell V. Norton

AUBURN – Russell V. Norton, 88, of Auburn, passed away Saturday afternoon Jan. 8, 2022 at The Hospice House with family at his side. He was born in Augusta, Oct. 15, 1933, a son of Vinton and Hazel (Russell) Norton.Russ was educated in the schools of Strong and graduated from Strong High School. As a student in high school, Russell participated in playing basketball and running cross country. On Sept. 26, 1953 he married the former Beverly Currier and together they initially settled in Farmington. Soon after, they moved to the Lewiston-Auburn area where they raised their family and have resided for the past 58 years. Russell first job was at the toothpick factory in Strong and once they moved to this area, he worked several years in local shoe shops and later worked well over 30 years at BIW as a pipefitter until his retirement. Russell enjoyed car racing, horse racing and going to the tracks and attending all the Maine fairs every year in the fall season. But most of all, he enjoyed good times with his family and watching his grandchildren grow and attending their sports games and other activities. He was a longtime devoted and active parishioner at the former St. Joseph’s Parish in Lewiston for many years and later in the Auburn churches of Sacred Heart and St. Philip’s.Russell was a loving, devoted and hardworking husband, father and grandfather who will be dearly missed, as one granddaughter said “He was our family’s quiet rock”. We love you.He leaves behind his wife of 68 years, Beverly Norton of Auburn; his five children, daughter Suzette Hutchinson of Winslow, daughter Lee Bilodeau of Rumford, son Jerry Norton and his wife Olga (“Oggie”) of Minot, son Rick Norton of Turner and daughter Annette Paradis, also of Turner; 21 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; two brothers; four sisters; many sisters-in-law and brothers- in-law; along with many nieces and nephews; and his loving cat Molly. Russell was predeceased by his parents Vinton and Katherine Norton and Lawrence and Hazel Nickerson; his daughter Lucy Norton; a brother Jerry Norton; a grandson Corey Norton; and a close family member Jack Strong.A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church Thursday Jan. 20 at 1 p.m. Interment will take place in the Spring in the family lot at Mt. Hope Cemetery. To sign the family’s online guestbook and view the video tribute, please visit http://www.thefortingroupauburn.com. A service of The Fortin Group / Plummer & Merrill Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 217 Turner St. AUBURN, 783-8545. 

Russell V. Norton