Monday, August 12, 2013

SBU ambassador Norma Bishop passes away



Southwest Baptist University News Release
Contact: Charlotte Marsch, Director of Marketing and Communications
(417) 328-1803 / cmarsch@sbuniv.edu

SBU ambassador Norma Bishop passes away

BOLIVAR, Mo.Norma Bishop, a graduate, former employee and ambassador for Southwest Baptist University passed away Saturday, Aug. 10.

Norma Bishop lived a long and productive life. She had a tremendous amount of energy and was passionate about sharing her love for Christ and her love for SBU. She served on numerous mission trips including going to several Olympics. Norma had a positive impact on our University and on me personally. She truly made a difference and we will miss her,said SBU President Dr. C. Pat Taylor.

After graduating from SBU (then Southwest Baptist College) in 1936 with an associate’s degree, Bishop later continued her college education through a master’s degree. She began teaching in a one-room schoolhouse and later taught at the elementary, high school and college levels.

Bishop taught reading practicums at SBU from 1971 to 1989. She also worked nearly 8 years as a switchboard operator, retiring in 2009 at the age of 92.

When Taylor nominated Bishop for the Outstanding Older Worker contest in 2008, he wrote, “Although in age she has reached her early 90s, she appears to have all the drive, vitality, enthusiasm, and school spirit of any 20-year-old at our university. Southwest Baptist University is proud to count Norma as a member of our family.”

Bishop received the Edwin Lightfoot Distinguished Alumni Award in 2001 and served as president of the 50-Year Club. She served on the SBU National Alumni Board and Redford College Curators Board. SBU awarded her an honorary doctorate in 2007.

Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13, at Butler Funeral Home, Bolivar. The funeral is 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, at First Baptist Church, Bolivar. Memorial donations may be made to SBU's private scholarship fund.


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Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.