Julius (Jule) Franklin Norton, age 87, of Middleton, TN was born on December 2, 1927 to Willie Frank and Ina Bishop Norton. He passed away October 1, 2015. He was raised on a farm in Middleton, TN and attended school there. He was preceded in death by both parents; three brothers, William Norton, Jim Norton, and George Norton; and one sister, Edna Earl Norton. He is survived by one brother, Dan Norton (Virginia Norton) of Germantown, TN; and one sister, Ann Hampton Kelley of Bolivar, TN; 13 nephews and nieces; and many great-nephews and nieces.
Jule started public work as a young teenager driving farm tractors and cutting lumber until he was drafted into the US Army during the Korean War in which he served in Germany awaiting deployment to Korea. Shortly after returning home from the War, he worked as a carpenter. Later, he worked 30 years for TVA prior to his retirement. After retiring, he was a school bus driver for 14 years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Middleton. He was a big fan of country music, particularly old gospel hymns. To all of his many friends, he was a “practical joker” and enjoyed telling stories to all he met. He was a Mason at Adams Lodge No. 264 in Middleton, TN for many years and thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship, meetings, and frequent dinners with his fellow Masons.
Jule lived in the Middleton Care Inn until moving to Bolivar with his sister Ann for a few months. He then moved to an assisted living facility in Germantown, TN, where he resided for the past four years.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the Old Enon Cemetery Fund, c/o Donnie Turner, 2265 Highway 125 South, Middleton, TN 38052, or to the Middleton, First Baptist Church, 525 North Main Street, Middleton, TN 38052.
