Albert Norton Chaston

Albert Norton Chaston (98 1/2), beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great–great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away calmly and peacefully, surrounded by loved ones on Thursday, November 14, 2024 in Provo Utah. His life was one of service and of showing love and extending friendship to family and friends alike. He will be missed, but we are comforted to know that he is joyfully reunited with his parents, brothers, and other loved ones.
Norton was born on April 7, 1926 to Albert Victor Chaston and Mary Malcolm Walker in Salt Lake City, Utah. After Mary passed away in August of 1932, when Norton was six years old, his father, Albert, married Alwine Voss in July of 1933. Throughout his life Norton referred to his angel mothers lovingly and appreciatively: Mary, the mother who gave him life, and Alwine, the mother who raised him. Norton grew up in Salt Lake City and graduated from West High School a year early with the other boys in his class in order to fill the need for more young men to serve in the military. Norton joined the United States Navy under the V12 program at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho, which prepared junior officers for Naval duty. In January, 1945, having completed the core curriculum, he reported to Midshipmen School at Northwestern University in Chicago. In May of the same year, he was commissioned an Ensign and assigned to Washington, D.C., for gunnery school where he learned the operation and direction of the Bofors 40 mm antiaircraft gun with a special emphasis on the Mark 57 & Mark 63 fire control directors. He then reported to Newport, Rhode Island, on August 4, as an original crew member (plank holder) of the aircraft carrier USS Franklin D Roosevelt CVB-42. Two days later the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima leading to the unconditional surrender on September 2, 1945, by Japan and the end of World War II. Reassignment sent the carrier to the Caribbean on its initial shakedown cruise before being ordered to Rio de Janeiro on a diplomatic mission. In July 1946, Ensign Norton Chaston was released from active service, and he received his promotion to Lieutenant Junior Grade after arriving home.
Shortly after returning home from military service, Norton served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England where his initial responsibilities included locating and organizing members after the War and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. One of his favorite memories of missionary service was meeting and teaching his Aunt Annie.
On September 12, 1949, Norton married the love of his life, Gloria Elgene Duncan, in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On September 12 of this year, they celebrated their 75 th wedding anniversary. In addition to lifelong service in the Church in a variety of ward and stake callings, together they also served family history missions locally in the BYU Family History Library, and in Australia and Scotland. Norton also dedicated himself to supporting Gloria in the important work she did co-authoring several books and registers
regarding genealogical research and family history.
Norton earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Utah and began a career working for General Electric, first in Schenectady, New York, and then in San Jose, California. In 1957, he accepted a position on the faculty of Brigham Young University in the Department of Electrical Engineering. He loved BYU and he loved his students. He took great joy and satisfaction in seeing them learn and progress. It didn't matter to him whether students excelled easily or struggled mightily; they were all the same to him. His door was always open to all for academic and life counseling. Early in his tenure at BYU, Norton passed his professional engineering license, which permitted him to be directly involved in industry throughout his career as a consultant, inspector, and legal witness. An additional outcome was that it provided professional contacts and influence to help students secure employment after they graduated. He took special care to help his students begin their careers in positions that matched their individual abilities; jobs in which they could find success and make contributions. He retired from full-time faculty service in 1990, although he continued to teach part-time through 1993.
His friendly charm along with his kindness and generosity endeared him to many. He always had individual time for family members. Sometimes he would just listen, and other times he offered wise counsel and advice. He had a special skill of interviewing children and grandchildren in a soft and loving way, often without them even knowing it. He would strike up a conversation anytime, anywhere, and with anyone. When he saw someone in need, he would spring into action, accompanied by a child or grandchild, serving happily without a thought of returned favors, recognition, or reward.
Norton and Gloria were blessed with five children – three sons and two daughters. They in turn have blessed them with 23 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren. Norton loved all of them and they loved him.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his four brothers – Malcolm, Victor, Cecil, Bertrand; adaughter-in-law, Judith Faye Law Chaston; and two grandsons, Matthew Chaston and Tyler Moore. Norton is survived by his wife, Gloria Chaston; sister, Ruth Gull; children, Larry (Jenni Day) of Veyo, Utah; Keith (Dawn) of Dubuque, Iowa; John (Linda) of Provo, Utah; Carolyn (Dave) Moore of Provo, Utah; Anne (Kendell) Hellewell of Payette, Idaho; 21 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren.
Viewings will be held at Nelson Family Mortuary, 4780 North University Avenue, Provo, Utah, 84604 on Friday, November 22, 2024, at 6:00–8:00pm MST, and at Edgemont 9th Ward, 4300 North Canyon Road, Provo, Utah, on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at 9:30am MST. The funeral service will follow at the same venue at 11:00am MST. A graveside service will be held at Orem Cemetery, 1520 North 800 East, Orem, Utah, 84097, at 12:30pm MST.
We invite you to share your fondest memories and upload photos of Norton on his memorial page, as we remember and celebrate his extraordinary life. His spirit, his love, and his wisdom will forever be remembered and cherished.