More detail on this person: Lt Col James David Norton, USMC (ret.) passed away on Saturday, 9 March 2024 in Norfolk, VA surrounded by family after a valiant battle with pulmonary fibrosis. David was born and raised by his father, James Irl and mother, Laurie Mary Trahan in New Iberia, LA, where he excelled at sports, enjoyed raising horses and working on cars. He attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL) and graduated with a BS degree in Animal Husbandry. In 1964, with an interest in aviation inspired by his father James Irl, he joined the United States Marine Corps and became a naval aviator. While in pilot training in Pensacola, Florida, David met and married the love of his life, Sylvia Marie Young. Together they raised two children, James Wesley and Angela Rene'. The Marine Corps brought the family across the world, with duty stations in, Kaneohe, Hawaii, Cherry Point, NC, Okinawa, Japan, Quantico, VA and Pensacola, Fl. Known by his Marine Corps brethren as Smoky, he had a successful career in aviation flying over 5,500 hours in numerous aircraft. He served 2 combat tours in Vietnam where he flew the H-34 and the AH-1 Cobra respectively. Earning 48 Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross (gold star in lieu of second award) for heroism in aerial flight. In 1985, following 21 years of honorable service, he retired from the Marine Corps and began working as a helicopter and fixed wing simulator instructor at Whiting Field in Milton, FL. During his 28 years instructing students, he also served as the contract negotiator and Union President for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local Lodge 2902, retiring for the final time in 2013. David enjoyed the outdoors, hiking, shooting, fishing, boating or even just a car ride with the top down and the music playing. He will be remembered for his love of family, friends, country, the Marine Corps, and his beloved pups - Sydney, Dixie, and McDougal. David was predeceased by his wife Sylvia Marie (Young), and survived by his son, James Wesley Norton of Land of Lakes, FL, his daughter, Angela Rene' McMillan (Michael) of Chesapeake, VA, his grandsons Nathan Norton McMillan, and Ryan Hayes McMillan, his brothers, Charles E. Norton (Joe) and William L. Norton (Karyn), as well as many beloved cousins, nephews, and nieces.
This information was last updated 12/03/2024
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Date posted on this site: 10/13/2025
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