Floyd Norton

Norton Floyd Norton, Seminole resident, passed away on Monday, September 30, 2024 at his home at the age of 89. Floyd was born on July 21, 1935 in Los Angeles, CA to Floyd June and Margret Caroline (Huling) Norton. Floyd married Pat Powell on September 7, 1957. Floyd was a graduate of David Starr Jordan High School in Long Beach, California. He was on the same swim dive team as Bob Denver also known as Gilligan on Gilligan’s Island. He was in Civil Air Patrol where he met the love of his life, Patricia “Pat” Ann Powell and many other lifelong friends. He proudly served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War Era. Floyd was a pilot and flight engineer for over 30 years. He flew both commercial cargo and passenger jets. He told stories of how he once flew Elsie the Borden Milk mascot cow and the famous racehorse, Secretariat.

He would tell how the racehorses would shift in their makeshift stalls causing the whole plane to move. Floyd would also talk about flying on the Hajj or Mecca trip so people could make their final trip to the promised land and how some of them didn’t make it. On one of these trips they smelled something burning and discovered the pilgrims had butchered a goat and had started a fire in the middle of the cargo plane to roast it. Needless to say, a prompt landing was necessary.

Floyd was a lifelong fisherman and bought himself a v-hull party barge so he could take the kids and grandkids out and race around the lakes. He loved to fly professionally but also small aircraft for fun. He loved his kids and grandkids and was very proud that he held many of his grandkids and some great grandkids first. He loved to watch his great grandson, Luke swim.

Floyd was caring and always concerned with family and friends, always asking about travels and servicing of cars and the wellbeing of those he loved.

Floyd was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Annabelle Norton Valenzuela and son-in-law, Denis Abercrombie.

Floyd is survived by his wife of 67 years, Pat Norton; children, Mary Louise and husband Dean Ellis, John and Betty Norton, David Norton and Linda Kathleen Abercrombie; grandchildren, Danny Ellis and wife, Amber, Heather Ellis, Chris Ellis and wife, Shay, Stephen Taron and wife, Brooke, Heather Bradshaw and husband, Robert, Jonathon Rueter and wife, Allyssa, Nicholas Norton and Autumn, Melinda Lewis and husband, Zack and Sean Abercrombie; great grandchildren, Luke, Savannah, Rylee, Chyanne, Addison, Broedy, Bryce, Jon Jon, Layla, Suvi, Zoe, Benny and Bobby; special friends, MaryLou Clinton, Linda Amya and Al Trueheart and many other nieces, nephews, family and friends.

A celebration of Floyd’s life will be held at a later date. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma.