Hilda K. Norton

Hilda K. Norton, age 75, passed away peacefully at her home in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, surrounded by her family, after a courageous battle with Lung Cancer. She was the daughter of the late Roger C. Saddlemire and Mary L. (Cox) Saddlemire.

Hilda was born in Conway, SC but, spent most of her life growing up and raising a family in Upstate New York. She was a graduate of Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School and Mildred Elley Secretarial School in Albany, NY. Being a wife and a mom and later a grammy was at the very center of her existence. Boating, camping, vacations to Cherry Grove Beach, SC, gardening and making a beautiful home. Family always came first. In summer, she and her husband, Rick, could very often be found on their sailboat and spending time with family and marina friends on the Great Sacandaga Lake, in the Adirondacks. And, when it was cold, they took up snowmobiling to pass the winter months.

Upon her retirement from Lockheed Martin, Hilda and Rick moved to North Myrtle Beach in early-2006, for warmer weather and the beach and the things she enjoyed most. Hilda was full of such exuberance and life. And was go, go, go. She absolutely loved dancing to Carolina beach music, and really most any music, and taking in live, local entertainment. She rode her bike everywhere, many times with her basket overflowing with whatever shopping she had done along the way. She and Rick traveled, usually with friends to tropical destinations but, more recently, to the Grand Canyon and Sedona and surrounding. Hilda was a true-blue friend. Loyal and honest and caring. She wasn’t a regular church goer but, her faith was very important to her throughout her life and was especially comforting to her in her final months and days.

Hilda is survived by her high school sweetheart and husband of 55-years, Richard A. Norton, of North Myrtle Beach, SC, daughter, Michele L. Norton, of Newburyport, MA, daughter, Melissa L. (Norton) Grasso, of Little River, SC, grandson, Nicholas J. Grasso, of Schenectady, NY, her sweet Boxer, Jackson (“Jack”) and granddog, Murph. She is also survived by her sister, Sharon A. (Charlie) Morse, of Clinton, NY and her brother, Roger C. (Tracey) Saddlemire, of Clifton Park, NY and several nieces and nephews and extended family. She was predeceased by her brother Wayne F. Saddlemire, of Saratoga Springs, NY.

A celebration of Hilda’s life will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2023, from 3:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., at the Sunset Harbour clubhouse on Waterway Drive in North Myrtle Beach. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be made in Hilda’s name to LUNGSTRONG at www.lungstrong.org or by mail at LUNGSTRONG, PO Box 281, Amesbury, MA 01913. LUNGSTRONG was instrumental in helping Hilda navigate the early days and months of her diagnosis and was near and dear to her heart.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.leefhandcrematory.com for the Norton family. Lee Funeral Home of Little River is serving the family.

Lovingly written by the family of Hilda K. Norton