Malcolm Bruce Northrup

Malcolm Bruce Northrup, a resident of Plano, Texas, went to his eternal home on Tuesday, May 19th, 2026, at the age of 86. Born in Malden, Massachusetts on June 15, 1939, Malcolm was the eldest of four boys born to Ronald and Lois Potter Northrup. From his earliest years, he carried the quiet confidence, curiosity, and sense of responsibility that would define his life.

A graduate of Southern Methodist University, Malcolm built a distinguished career as a corporate executive and international technology industry leader. He began his professional journey at Collins Radio and later Rockwell International, companies that played pivotal roles in early aerospace and communications engineering. His career unfolded alongside the rise of modern computing, and Malcolm became one of the executives steering the industry through its foundational decades.

Most notably, he served as president and chief executive officer of Verbatim Corporation, then the world’s largest producer of floppy disks and a global force in data storage. Under his leadership, Verbatim expanded its international footprint and helped shape the way personal computing reached homes and businesses around the world. Malcolm later owned and led a manufacturing company in the Bay Area that supported the rapidly growing semiconductor industry—an arena that perfectly matched his strategic mind and global perspective.

Despite the demands of international travel, Malcolm was unwaveringly present for his family. He cherished skiing trips, family vacations, and any opportunity to gather his loved ones together. An avid reader with a sharp intellect, he delighted in spirited discussions about politics, science, and religion—conversations that were always thoughtful, often passionate, and unmistakably Malcolm.

In his later years, Malcolm found deep joy and spiritual grounding as an active member of Faith Church Anglican, where he participated in weekly Sunday worship, and a weekly small group with people he would quickly call Family. His church family became an important part of his life, and he theirs.

Malcolm is survived by his brothers Craig Northrup and Ralph Northrup; his children Cynthia Northrup Ernst, Cathleen Elizabeth Northrup, Douglas Northrup, Christian Douglas Northrup, and Amy Jean Northrup Adcock; eight grandchildren; and six great grandchildren. He is also survived by many beloved members of his church community.

He was preceded in death by his brother Allan Robert Northrup and by his cherished wives, Jan Darlin Northrup and later Sandra Lankow, both of whom he loved deeply.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Faith Anglican Church or The Giving Garden at Jacob’s Reward Farm two ministries that reflect Malcolm’s values of service, stewardship, and community.

His life was a blessing, his memory a treasure. Though we grieve his absence, we rejoice in the promise of eternal life.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Faith Anglican Church, 531 S State Hwy 5, Fairview, TX 75069, on June 20, 2026, at 4:00 pm.