Norma Carlton Paterson

Norma Carlton Paterson, 93, a lifelong resident of Smithfield, RI, passed away on August 14, 2026, with family by her side.

Born Norma Marillyn Carlton on February 6th, 1933, she was the eldest daughter of the late Luther J. and Helen A. Carlton and the beloved wife of the late Walter E. Paterson for sixty-six years.

Along with her parents and siblings, Norma worked the family dairy farm, Twin Oak Dairy, in historic Stillwater, Rhode Island from a young age. Whether it was delivering milk to Providence with her grandfather, dodging snakes her brothers threw at her during haying season or driving school children in Smithfield under the family school bus contract, Norma was a fully active member of the farm family. She later drove 15 years for RIPTA and ended her working life as a driver of the country mystery rides and their medical appointments for the seniors at The Village at Waterman Lake.

She was the sister of Gerald “Bobby” and William “Billy” Carlton and the late Philip “Roy” Andrews, John "Joe", Richard “Dick”, Donald “Mickey” Russell and David Carlton, Anna Andreasson “Midge", and Leah Peterson. In addition to her sisters, she counted her sisters-in-law, Joyce, Carolyn, and Sandra - among her closest friends.

She leaves behind her devoted children Leah Paterson-Smith, Tracey Paterson-Ovian (Craig), Walter R. Paterson, her four beloved grandchildren Alexandra J. Iannitelli (Ted), Travis L. Smith, Farah R. Smith (Michael), Benjamin R. Iannitelli, and many much-loved nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was the loving mother of her youngest daughter, the late Jill Paterson (Richard).

Services will be private.