Norma Bishop (Bolivar)'s Obituary
Norma was born in Tally Bend, near Lowry City, Missouri on July 2, 1917 to Rev D. D. Tally and Ethel Baker Tally. She was united in marriage to Lucas Bishop on March 21, 1937. Norma and Lucas were married for 49 years and had five children.
She was an active member of First Baptist church in Bolivar and taught Sunday school many years. A 1933 graduate of Bolivar High School, she earned and Associate of Arts degree in education from Southewst Baptist University in 1936, a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Missouri State University in 1959, as well as a Masters in Reading from the University of Central Missouri in 1972. Southwest Baptist University conferred her with an Honorary Doctorate Degree in 2007.
Norma began her teaching career in one room schools and continued teaching in elementary and high schools in Collins, Humansville, and El Dorado Springs. After Retirement from public schools, she taught reading at Southwest Baptist University and English as a second language in California and Siberia. She also served on the Polk County Habitat for Huminty Board of Directors and worked in the National Headquarters in Americus, Georgia.
She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma and received numerous awards including SBU Life Service Award, Edwin Lightfoot Alumni Award, SBU Global Ambassador Award and Leaders of American Secondary Education Yearbook Award. Norma also won the Older Workers of Ozarks Region Award and was recently inducted into the Humansville Schools Hall of Fame.
Her extensive travels took her to forty-nine foreign countries and all fifty states. She had special memories of serving on Gospel and Mission trips to the Olympics in Utah, Sydney and Greece.
Norma loved her large family who brought her great joy and happiness. Her children are Lucia Brundage of Pleasant Hill, Mo.; Delynn Bishop, wife, Jan, Republic, Mo.; Zelda Kelly, husband, Bill, Clearwater, Fl.; Laurel Beth Pipes (deceased); and Vaughn Bishop, wife MegAnn, Torrance, Ca. She is also survived by her sisters, Fae Davis, Pioneer, Ca.; Dortha Culp, Allen, Tx.; Ellen Eldridge, Reno, Nv.; and Sherla Cox, Pioneer, Ca.; nine grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lucas; her daughter, Laurel; her parents; her brothers, Erwin and George; her sisters, Euvon, Zella, Nelda, and four grandchildren
Memorial donations may be made to the Scholarship fund at Southwest Baptist University.
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