Norman W. Bratton, Sr

Name: Norman W. Bratton, Sr.

Calling Hours: Friday, May 2nd from 2 to 8 pm at Weigel Funeral Home in Swanton

Service Hours: Saturday, May 3rd at 1:00 pm at Trinity United Methodist Church in Swanton

Norman W. Bratton Sr., age 81, of Delta, Ohio, passed away early Tuesday morning, April 29, 2008, in his home, surrounded by his loving family. He was born, March 27, 1927 northeast of Delta to Wesley S. and Minnie C. (Habel) Bratton. He graduated from Fulton Cenralized High School at Ai, Ohio in 1945 and married Jeanne Davidson on Oct. 1, 1950. They had two children, a son, Norman W. Bratton, Jr. (Vicky) who have three sons; and a daughter, Diana (James M. Figy) who had two sons and two stepsons. She died in 1985. There are seven great-grandchildren.

His dad had a stroke and high blood pressure when Norman was in grade school, so he started farming after school and the summer months. They cut wheat and oats with a binder and threshed with a threshing machine, which his dad owned. Had a neighborhood group they worked with, and he started helping operate this when he was 11 years old. He never smoked a cigarette in his life, so they said his late lung problems were called “Farmers Lung”.

Norman joined Farm Bureau in 1956 and soon was elected to the County Board. He got the job of organizing a youth council, for which he and his wife served as advisors for 20 years. Then he got into government affairs and stayed with it, representing Farm Bureau on the county C.I.C. Board, until retirement this year.

He served on the county committee with Toledo Edison in establishing a road and house numbering system that helps fire and rescue units find where they are needed. He then got all county FFA Chapters and banks to help sell house numbers.

He brought it to the State Patrol’s attention that it was illegal to follow farm machinery on the road at night with the four-way flashers, and they suggested getting changes made. The State Representative went to Columbus and introduced the changes to the House. With testimony from Farm Bureau and the State Patrol, it passed the House and Senate easily.

Norman and Jeanne belonged to Ai Circle Farm Bureau Advisory Council for many years.

He joined the Fraternal Order Knights of Pythias in 1951 at Swanton Lodge #588; became Grand Chancellor of Ohio 1984-85; and was a Supreme Representative four years. He also belonged to the Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan/Nomads of Avrudaka.

Norman served on the Board of Directors of the former Delta Farmers Elevator for nine years, eight as secretary. He also served on the Fulton Co. Republican Central Committee for 20 some years, retiring this year, and on the Fulton Co. Historical Society Board.

He was inducted into the Fulton County Agriculture Hall of Fame in 1990, and honored in 2007 by the OFBF with the Distinguished Service Award for his commitment to agriculture in the state.

He belonged to Swanton Trinity United Methodist Church for over fifty years, serving as Sunday School teacher, on the Finance Committee, and as usher.

Norman and Jeanne also conducted six travel tours in the late seventies.

Preceding him in death besides his daughter, were his parents, and a sister, Gladys G. Bratton.

Surviving are his wife, Jeanne; son, Norman Jr. and wife Vicky; grandsons, Landon, Christopher and Nicholas Bratton, Kent (Laurie) and Weston Figy; two step-grandsons, Michael and Wil Figy; and seven great-grandchildren, Kendra Weiser, Dane Figy, Skyler and Webb Figy, Layni Allport and Trenton and Ashlyn Figy.

Friends and family may visit Friday, May 2nd, from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Weigel Funeral Home in Swanton, where a Knights of Pythias service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Funeral services will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 3rd, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 210 N. Main St. in Swanton, where visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Pastor John Schlicher will officiate. Interment will follow at Fulton Union Cemetry.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the church, Hospice of Fulton & Williams Co., 230 Westfield Dr., Archbold, OH, or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Residence: Delta, Ohio

Interment: Fulton Union Cemetery