Norma M. Gilpin, 88, of Emporia passed away on Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at Lexington Park Nursing, Topeka with her family and Great Lakes Hospice at her side.
Norma was born on November 13, 1928 in Chanute, Kansas the daughter of Roscoe L. and Betty L. Bowman Mendenhall. After completing grade school in Virgil, KS, her family moved to Emporia in 1940. She attended Junior High at Roosevelt and later graduated from Emporia High School. She was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority while attending the University of Kansas and graduated from the School of Journalism. She married Glen E. Gilpin on June 17, 1951 at the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Emporia. He passed away on May 22, 2011 in Emporia.
Surviving family members include: a daughter, Cynthia Hermes of Topeka; a son, Glen E. Gilpin II and wife Nancy of Emporia; grandchildren, Lauren Childers and husband Mike of Topeka, Cassie Hermes of Topeka, Anita Strohm and husband Bob of Kansas City, Missouri, and Megan Gilpin of New York City, New York; great-granddaughters, Madeline and Bridget Strohm.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband and brothers Roscoe Mendenhall Jr. (Sonny) and Jay Lynn Mendenhall.
Norma was a homemaker. She was a member of the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and had served on the vestry. She was also past President of the Lyon Co. Women’s Republican Club, State Membership Chairwoman for 10 years for the University of Kansas Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, G.O.P. County Precinct Committee Vice Chair, and past board member of the Emporia Country Club.
More than anything, Norma loved traveling and being with family and friends. Her time playing bridge with many of those friends would occupy as much time as she could find. Norma is truly one of the last original angels from the Emporia Christmas Celebration.
The memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 15th at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 828 Commercial St., Emporia, KS with Father Marc McDonald, rector. Inurnment will follow in the St. Andrew’s Church Yard. Memorial contributions to Emporia Arts Council or Emporia Friends of the Zoo can be sent in care of the funeral home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Norma M. Gilpin, please visit our flower store.
Norma was born on November 13, 1928 in Chanute, Kansas the daughter of Roscoe L. and Betty L. Bowman Mendenhall. After completing grade school in Virgil, KS, her family moved to Emporia in 1940. She attended Junior High at Roosevelt and later graduated from Emporia High School. She was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority while attending the University of Kansas and graduated from the School of Journalism. She married Glen E. Gilpin on June 17, 1951 at the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Emporia. He passed away on May 22, 2011 in Emporia.
Surviving family members include: a daughter, Cynthia Hermes of Topeka; a son, Glen E. Gilpin II and wife Nancy of Emporia; grandchildren, Lauren Childers and husband Mike of Topeka, Cassie Hermes of Topeka, Anita Strohm and husband Bob of Kansas City, Missouri, and Megan Gilpin of New York City, New York; great-granddaughters, Madeline and Bridget Strohm.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband and brothers Roscoe Mendenhall Jr. (Sonny) and Jay Lynn Mendenhall.
Norma was a homemaker. She was a member of the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and had served on the vestry. She was also past President of the Lyon Co. Women’s Republican Club, State Membership Chairwoman for 10 years for the University of Kansas Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, G.O.P. County Precinct Committee Vice Chair, and past board member of the Emporia Country Club.
More than anything, Norma loved traveling and being with family and friends. Her time playing bridge with many of those friends would occupy as much time as she could find. Norma is truly one of the last original angels from the Emporia Christmas Celebration.
The memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 15th at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 828 Commercial St., Emporia, KS with Father Marc McDonald, rector. Inurnment will follow in the St. Andrew’s Church Yard. Memorial contributions to Emporia Arts Council or Emporia Friends of the Zoo can be sent in care of the funeral home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Norma M. Gilpin, please visit our flower store.
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