Norton, Larry William – d. 1959

NORTON

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 8/24/2021 at 12:13:45

Funeral services for Larry Norton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Norton of this community were held Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Cory Grove Church near Elkhart with burial in the Cory Grove cemetery.
Source: The Colfax Tribune, Thursday, June 18, 1959.

Jasper County Man Drowned Near Collins
Larry William Norton, 20, Baxter, a bridegroom f only seven months drowned yesterday while swimming in Dodds Park near Collins, in northwest Jasper County.
Norton was in a party of five swimming in a 13-acre farm pond on the Roy Dodd farm near Collins when the accident occurred at 2:20 p.m.
In the party were Norton’s wife, Faye, 17; David Maxwell, 20, Collins; Jerry Hudson, 17, Collins and Kathie Breer, 16, Baxter. The members of the group said they had finished dinner at the Norton’s and immediately driven to the pond to swim.
Norton reportedly dove in shortly after arriving, and said he was going to swim across the pond.
Maxwell said Norton was almost across the pond and presumably was in water shallow enough to stand, but that Norton suddenly fell over backward and disappeared beneath the surface. Maxwell swam to help but the body had disappeared.
George Kimberly, Collins, recovered the body after being in the water only about five minutes. Maxwell, an Iowa State College junior, tried unsuccessfully to revive Norton.
The Collins Fire Department used a resuscitator in an attempt to revive him. Shortly after, Story County Deputy Sheriff, John Stark arrived on the scene to help.
Acting Jasper County coroner John Ferguson pronounced Norton dead about 30 minutes after the body was removed from the water.
Jasper County Sheriff Ray Gaylor said this morning the coroner reports Norton presumably was dead when taken from the water. He said he believes Norton got a cramp from swimming too soon after eating. He added that members of the party reported that Norton could swim and had frequently swam across the pond before.
Norton is the eldest of five children of William Norton who farms two miles northwest of Valeria.
Source: Ames (IA) Daily Tribune; June 8, 1959, page 1