Theresa Norton 1962-1977

NORTON, WANDLING, DIETRICH, FAHEY, HANSON

Posted By: Melissa Mayhew Grandt (email)
Date: 4/16/2009 at 22:32:34

Williamsburg Journal-Tribune, Williamsburg (Iowa Co), Iowa, 3 November 1977.

Theresa Norton, 15, Dies In Auto Crash
Last rites for Theresa Marie Norton, 15, Carlisle, were held Monday, Oct. 31, at 10 a.m. in Christ the King Catholic church, Des Mointes, with the Rev. Michael Churchman officiating. Theresa was the daughter of the Franklin Nortons, former Marengo residents, who moved from Cedar Rapids to Carlisle four and one-half years ago.

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Theresa died of a broken neck in a car-truck accident three miles from her home about 11 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, 1977. Her brother Tom, 17, had picked her up from her job at Happy Joe's pizza parlor, Southridge mall, about seven miles from the Norton home, and they were returning home. A truck which had been parked along the road, was moving back onto it, apparently without lights. Norton pulled out to avoid the truck, but the car was caught under the trailer on the passenger side where Theresa was sitting.

When the youth had not returned home, Mrs. Norton followed the route they would have been traveling and came upon the ambulances and emergency vehicles at the site. The accident remains under investigation.

Tom was taken to Mercy hospital, Des Moines, where is is recuperating. He received facial lacerations and lost three teeth. He is expected to be released from the hospital this week and was able to attend funeral services for his sister Monday.

Knights of Columbus services were held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and rosary at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Richardson funeral home. Burial was in Calvary cemetery, Marengo, Monday afternoon. Pallbearers were Dennis Dietrich, Ron and Jim Urfer, Dan Cunningham, Joe Dunn and Pat Ratigan.

Born Jan. 20, 1962 in Cedar Rapids, Theresa was the daughter of Franklin and Peggy Wandling Norton. She was a sophomore at Carlisle high school where she had participated in track, glee club and had been a junior high cheerleader. She was a right fielder on the summer softball league team.

A member of St. Elizabeth church, Carlisle, she was active in the church youth group and played piano for church.

Her father is a land surveyor for Schneider Associates, Ankeny.

Survivors in a addition to her parents and brother Tom are two other brothers, Patrick, 8; Todd, r; and two sisters, Pam, 14, and Paula, 10; two aunts, Mrs. Gary (Lucy) Dietrich, Cedar Rapids; and Mrs. Dick (Kathleen) Fagey, Dubuque.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents the Ralph Wandlings and the Leo Nortons, all Marengo, and an aunt, Helen Hanson, Cedar Rapids.