Howard Norton

Howard Norton
May 8, 1932 - Jan. 11, 2013
Scotts Valley, CA
On January 11, 2013 Howard Dale Norton passed away peacefully in his sleep at the family home. Howard was born in Shell Rock, Iowa on May 8th, 1932. As a young man growing up in Iowa, he excelled at sports and was popular in his home town. Howard went by his middle name Dale until the untimely death of his father. Howard graduated in May 1950 from New Hartford, Iowa High School.
During his sophomore year, he was a Starting Guard on the team that was only one game away from going to the Iowa State High School Basketball Tournament. As a senior, he was the leading scorer on that team.
Howard was drafted into the Army and served in Korea where he achieved the rank of Sgt. 1st Class. Before his trip overseas to Korea, Howard was stationed at Camp Roberts where he fell in love with California and later moved out west with his wife and home town sweetheart Patty Finch. With only a few belongings and $1,500 in their pockets, the two of them struck out together to seek their fortune like other young couples. Prior to their arrival, Patty's family found their way to California also, where they all eventually settled in what was then the little town of Scotts Valley.
In the early years while in California, Howard worked for Safeway and managed a number of the stores in the area including Los Gatos, Watsonville, Felton and Aptos. After his years in the grocery business, Howard, with the help of his father-in-law Kenneth Finch, joined his brother-in-law and well-known local Realtor Marlyn Bergman at Scotts Valley Realty. Eventually Howard went on to start his own company, Scotts Valley Properties, with his Real Estate Broker license. This was the beginning of his real estate developing career.
After his introduction into Scotts Valley Real Estate and politics, Howard began to help shape Scotts Valley as a Developer, Water Board Director, member of The Scotts Valley Businessman's Assoc. and a commissioner and president of Scotts Valley Mobil Home Rent Control. In the 70's and 80's Howard's office was a place where most of the influential men and women in the town went to discuss Scotts Valley's future over a cup of coffee.
Anyone living or shopping in Scotts Valley will have at some point visited, shopped or dined at one of Howard's developments or properties. Most familiar to everyone was Wendy's, which he developed and was owned by his daughter VeVe. The two of them successfully ran the popular restaurant for almost 20 years. Many were saddened when the business was sold in 2012. In December 2011 one of his Mini Storage businesses was featured on the AE series "Storage Wars". Howard was a visionary and knew that the Mini Storage he started with his son and two other partners in the early 80's would someday be a good business to be a part of. Howard always credited the success of the Storage Depot to his Manager and close friend, Judy Ball. He once told his son that "We are the bi-product of others success!" Some of his Scotts Valley real estate endeavors include the 200 unit retirement home located on Lockwood Ln., known as Oak Tree Villa Retirement Community and his hard work and effort helping to develop Scotts Village (Safeway/CVS) and Scotts Valley Square (K-Mart). One of Howard's proudest accomplishments was becoming a Mason and a Shriner.
A few of Howard's personal recognitions/accolades include many city honors and the most recent, a Proclamation by The Scotts Valley City Council presented by former Mayor and dear friend, Donna Lind for everything he has done for the city.
Some of the things Howard enjoyed the most were spending time at his daughter's home on Lake Tulloch fishing and relaxing, seeing his friends come by the drive-thru at Wendy's restaurant, and most of all watching his grandchildren play sports. He was extremely proud of all 3 of them.
Over the years Howard has made many wonderful friends and many refer to him as "Mr. Scotts Valley".
Howard was truly an example that hard work, kindness, and honesty does pay off. To look at him or talk to him, one would never know how important he really was to the community. Howard was not flashy, to say the least, and always thought of himself as just a regular Iowa farm boy.
In the last few years of his life, Howard needed kidney dialysis. As difficult as it was, the staff at Satellite Dialysis Center always kept his spirits high and he was truly grateful for that.
Scotts Valley has lost one of its most important and influential citizens and he will be truly missed.
Howard was predeceased by his sister Elaine and his father Howard and mother Margaret. He is survived by his wife Patty, children VeVe and Scott, sisters Kay and husband Larry Parkin, Maurine and husband Jay Crisp and grandchildren Tanner, Miles and Cienna.