David L. Norton (Dave) of Richmond died September 12, 2026 at age 80. He is survived by his devoted wife of 59 years, Susan Powell Norton; daughters Carolyn Norton of Atlanta, Katherine Byer and her husband, Andy, of St. Louis, and Liz Stanko and her husband, Chris, of Richmond; his five beloved grandchildren Sam and Ellie Williams of Richmond and Ashley, Lindsey and Megan Byer of St. Louis; his sister, Wendy Brown of Richmond; and his brother, Rick Norton of Kennebunk, Maine. He was predeceased by his parents, Kitty and Larry Norton.

Dave was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and lived at various times in Charlotte and Greensboro, NC as well as in Paramus and Ridgewood, NJ before moving to Richmond in 1957. He graduated from Douglas Freeman High School, the University of Virginia and the University of Virginia School of Law. While an undergraduate, he was a Lawn resident, an Honor Law Committee Advisor, Sports Editor of the yearbook, senior dormitory counselor, fraternity president, and member of the T. I. L. K. A. ribbon society. While in law school, he served as Chairman of the Moot Court Board, member of the National Moot Court team and member of the Student Advisory Council.

After graduation, he was law clerk to Justice Harry L. Carrico of the Virginia Supreme Court, following which he became an Associate with the law firm of Mays, Valentine, Davenport and Moore. In 1972, he began practicing law in-house with First & Merchants Corporation and within a few years he became General Counsel of the Corporation and later of its merger partner, Sovran Financial Corporation. He went on to be Deputy General Counsel of C&S and NationsBank, General Counsel of the Virginia Lottery, and then a partner with Mays Valentine.

Following retirement, he volunteered as Mission Development Consultant for the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and served as a member of the Commission on Congregational Missions and the Commission on Church Planting. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of The Virginia Diocesan Homes, the Bishop’s Liturgical Commission, as well as a delegate to Diocesan Council four times serving a Chairman of its Committee on Resolutions and the Committee on the Budget. He also was a delegate to Region XII, where he served as a member of the Commission on Worship and Liturgics. Throughout his career he also served on the Boards of Westminster Canterbury Corporation and its Foundation, where he was Chairman of the Admissions Committee, a member of the Resident Relations Committee, the Executive Committee, the Major Gifts and Planned Giving Committee, and the Nominating Committee. In 2001, he was awarded the Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans Award for distinguished volunteer service at Westminster Canterbury.

He also served as a member of the Association of Bank Holding Companies, the Southern Conference of Bank Counsel, the Board of the Richmond Urban League, the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Board of the American Cancer Society, a member of the Board of the American Heart Association and of the Board of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

He was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church where he served on the Vestry four times, was a member of the Endowment Board, Chairman of the Search Committee, Co-Chairman of the Building Expansion Committee and Acolyte Guild Master.

He was a member of the American Bar Association, the Virginia Bar Association, the Virginia State Bar, where he served as Chairman of the Business Law Section, and a member of the Richmond Bar Association serving as Chairman of the Corporate Counsel section.

A celebration of life service will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church at 11 am on September 26, 2026 followed by a reception immediately after the service at The Country Club of Virginia – Westhampton Clubhouse (6031 Saint Andrews Lane). Those attending his celebration of life are encouraged to wear bright colors. For those unable to make it in person, the service will be live-streamed and recorded, and may be viewed online: www.youtube.com/allsaintsrva

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to All Saints Episcopal Church or The Westminster Canterbury Foundation.