William B. Norton Jr.

MARION — The Honorable William B. Norton Jr., 88, died Friday, Feb. 10, at Marion County Medical Center following an illness.

He recently retired as Marion Countys Master in Equity and Special Referee, following his resignation as Judge of Probate. He practiced law in Marion since 1940 in the firm of Norton, Norton and Norton. He left Marion for wartime service as a special agent with the FBI from 1942 to 1945.

He was active in civic, church and humanitarian efforts on behalf of Marions citizens. He was elected to City Council and the State Legislature. He was a member of the Lions Club and the South Carolina and Marion Bar Associations; lay reader, vestryman and member of the Mens Club at Marion Church of the Advent; trustee of the S.J. Wall Estate and Charitable Trust; financial supporter of Native Americans, health-care and wildlife organizations.

He held both AB and LLB degrees from the University of South Carolina, and also attended Clemson and the United States Military Academy. He was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity.

Judge Norton is survived by his wife of 65 years, Irene Gillespie Norton, as well as a daughter, Alice Barnes (John) of Dill Lake in Gresham, and a son, William B. Norton III of Murrells Inlet. He is predeceased by two daughters, Caroline Moran and Evelyn Myatt.

The Nortons have five grandchildren; Resa Perkins and Ann Golden of the Washington, D.C., area; Malcolm White of Loris; Tamara Patterson of Denver; and Erin Norton of Surfside Beach. They also have seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will take place at the Episcopal Church of the Advent, 307 S. Main St. in Marion at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12, directed by Richardson Funeral Home. The family will receive friends in the Parrish Hall following the service.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Marion Church of the Advent, PO Box 888, Marion, SC 29571, or to the charity of ones choice.