Norma M. Fowler Shipp

Norma M. Fowler Shipp, 83, Ankeny, IA, died January 4, 2016 at her home. A memorial service will be held January 7, 11:00 am at Saylorville Church, 6429 NW Sixth Dr., Des Moines, of which she was a member. Burial will be in the Ankeny Memorial Gardens prior to the memorial service.

Norma was born in Endicott, NY, and spent all her school years in that area, graduating from Union-Endicott High School in 1950. She graduated from Northwestern Schools (later changed to Northwestern College) in Minneapolis, MN where she met her future husband, Dr. Gordon L. Shipp. She worked with her husband as he pastored in 4 different Baptist churches: Farmington, IA; Eldora, IA; Chicago, IL, and Flint, MI. In 1980, they moved to Ankeny, IA where her husband assumed the presidency of Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary. Norma served as his secretary until her husband's death in March of 1987 and then continued in that office until her retirement in May of 1997. Upon retirement from the college, she then worked part-time as a secretary in the office at Saylorville Church until April of 2005.

In addition, she also taught some secretarial classes at FBBC, was president of the Iowa General Association of Regular Baptist Churches State Ladies group in 1963 and 1984, was a workshop speaker at the GARBC Conferences in 1972 and 1992, was the speaker at various women's retreats in IL, TX, CO, NY and in IA, plus spoke in different classes each year at the college.

Survivors include three children: Deb Shipp Battey (Bob) of Danville, KY; Steve Shipp of Flint, MI; and Cyndi Shipp Lister (Doug) of Ankeny, IA; five grandchildren: Stacey Shipp Brill (Richard) and Kyle Shipp (Dianna), Andy, Jarrod (Hannah) and Katie Lister; and three great-grandchildren: Lillian, Ellison and Bennett Brill. Two sisters: Romayne Fowler Stahl (Bill), Jacksonville, FL and Sharon Fowler Johnson (Paul), Wellington, OH; plus several nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her husband, Dr. Gordon Shipp, her daughter-in-law, Becky Harris Shipp, her father and mother, George and Leona Fowler and her brother and sister-in-law, George Erwin and Wendy Fowler.

The viewing will be held at the Ankeny Funeral Home on Wednesday, January 6, from 4 to 7. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary.