Thomas Norton

Nov 11, 2025

Thomas Guy Norton passed away on Nov. 11, 2025, at his home in McMinnville, Ore. Tom grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, where he attended Woodland Park Presbyterian Church and graduated from Anchorage High School. He attended Alaska Methodist University and graduated from George Fox College in Newburg, Ore., where he received a B.S. degree in biology. He worked during summer months for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and for Reading and Bates Oil Drilling Company. He also attended San Francisco Theological Seminary. After earning a master's degree in divinity, he traveled to Switzerland, where he studied German and Swiss theology at the University of Bern.

With his new wife, Ursula, a wonderful family was created including two children, Christina and Nicholas. Tom became pastor at several Swiss Evangelical reform churches. Frequently he traveled to South Korea where he ministered to small island communities on a missionary ship. He taught English in churches throughout Seoul.

While President of the Swiss-American Society he had a passion for the sport, curling. Eventually his team became the Swiss national champions!

In later years Tom married his childhood sweetheart, Mary. She joined him in Switzerland before they returned to the United States to establish their new home in McMinnville, where they spent a wonderful life together. Always seeking new adventures, Tom and Mary cruised to the Amazon, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Chile and the Galapagos. Never wasting a moment, Tom wrote two books about his early adventures in Alaska and about the adventures and culture of South Korea including some of his sermons.

Tom is remembered for his unconditional love and seeing only the good in others. He always had a positive outlook. He loved being a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was preceded in death by his parents, Phyllis and Glenn. He leaves behind his wife, Mary; daughter, Christina (Thomas) and their children, Geraldine and Eric; and son, Nicholas (Murial) and their son, Colin. He also leaves behind his sister, Patty (Les); brother, Chuck, also known as Lucky; Mary's children, Richard (Barbara), Triena, Terri, Audrey (Jeff), Gretchen and Aaron; eight other grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; numerous nephews and nieces; and his former wife.

A celebration of life occurred at the first Presbyterian Church of North Bend, Ore., on Jan. 23, 2026. A short video of Tom's life may be viewed at https://youtu.be/pGM7qD1sqr0.