From the Lodi Sentinel, 13 Jul 1918:
C. Willis Norton, after three years of ill health and several months of acute indisposition, passed out of life at the family home on North California street, Stockton, Thursday morning.
Judge Norton's death was due to a series of strokes of apoplexy. For periods he seemed to rally and be in a fair way to recovery, but he never fully recuperated his strength. Last Sunday evening he began to fail perceptibly, and he gradually grew weaker until the end came peacefully early yesterday.
Judge Norton resigned from the superior bench January 1, 1916, owing to his continued ill health, and since that time has been mostly in retirement. Of late months he was continuously in the hospital or confined to his home. During this time he was called upon to sustain the shock of his son's death, and there has been other sickness of a serious nature in the family.
Charles Willis Norton was born July 18, 1861, near Lodi. He was the son of the late O. O. Norton and Maria Elliott Norton and was the eldest of their three children. He was married January 1, 1885 to Nellie F. Staples, who survives him. The children born to the couple were: Oscar Sargent Norton, Lillian Norton Brandstad, Sylvia Norton Davis and the late Willis Sherwood Norton. He also leaves surviving him his sister, Alice N. Lasell of Lodi, and a brother, Arthur Norton of Eureka. Mrs. Norton's mother, Mrs. M. E. Sargent, made her home with Judge and Mrs. Norton during the past several years.
As a young man Judge Norton engaged in farming here until reaching the age of about 30; when he turned toward law and politics. He was elected public administrator in 1894 and served four years. In 1899 he was appointed deputy district attorney by A. H. Ashley and served until 1902, when he was elected district attorney and served four years until 1906. In that year he was elected judge of the superior court of San Joaquin county without opposition and was re-elected in 1912. He served ten years on the bench, resigning January 1, 1916, on account of ill health. At the time of his death he was aged 56 years, 11 months and 23 days. He had spent his entire life in San Joaquin county and was well known and highly esteemed throughout the state.
His fraternal connections were many. At the time of his death he held membership in the following lodges: Lodi lodge, No. 350, F. and A. M.; Stockton chapter, No. 28, R. A. M.; Stockton commandery, No. 8, K. T.; Lodi chapter, No. 150, O. E. S.; Stockton lodge, No. 318, B. P. O. E.; Stockton parlor, No. 7, N. S. G. W.; and Islam Temple, Mystic Shriners.
He had received many honors in fraternal circles and served one year as illustrious master of the grand council of R. & S. Masters. He also served one term as grand high priest of the grand chapter of the State of California.
In late years he had been largely interested in grape growing and vine culture and had a model farm and plant at Norton station on the Traction company's line. He was the senior member of the firm of Norton & Angier, general fruit shippers. He was admitted to the practice of law in 1896.
The body is at the family home on North California street, where it may be viewed from 8:30 to 11 by friends. The funeral services will begin at 11 o'clock, and in them several fraternities will join. Interment will be in Park View cemetery and will be private.