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.
