Norma, or “Mom”, embodied consummate midwestern values of her rural Indiana upbringing. Fiercely loyal to her family, church, and country, she was fervent in encouraging others. A life-long church attender, and specifically, a committed Christian since 1962, she lived daily with the singular focus to honor the Lord and to further His grace and love. Her life had a lasting imprint on those who knew her, and even in her death, impact for Christ was evident. In frail health, she succumbed on May 31, 2010 to complications resulting from serious falls. Her chosen verse of Scripture was II Timothy 4:7-8:
I have fought the good fight,
I have finished the course,
I have kept the faith;
Henceforth there is laid up
for me a crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous judge,
shall give me on that day;
and not to me only,
but unto all them also that
love His appearing.
Fast Facts:
1. War bride, married to high school sweetheart Norman F. Hankins 64+ years.
2. Mother of 4 sons, 9 grandchildren, and a bunch of great grandchildren
3. Graduated in top 6 of her High School class (...of 6...)
4. Worked at Purdue University for 17 years
5. Sang in Church Choir (mostly to monitor her boys behavior in the balcony)
6. Christian ministry trips to Hawaii, Washington D.C., New Zealand, Fiji Islands
7 Developed proficiency in the fine art of... “discipline” with a switch
8. Cooked some mean fried potatoes... and country gravy
9. Remained in close contact with life-long friends. (e.g. Faye, Mildred, & Georgie)
10. Interests included ceramics, travel, bingo, and ballgames (she had no choice...)
Quick Quips:
1. “I love all my boys the same.”
2. When informed she had just given birth to her fourth son: “Another boy! Oh no! They just fight all the time!”
3. Describing the love of her life: “Your Daddy was so handsome. He had coal black wavy hair. ...Now, he’s got less waves and more beach....”
4. When exhausted after a long day of work: “I’m just thankful to have a job in which to get tired.”
5. When snookered out of funds by close associates, “If they can live with it, I can live without it.”
6. When discovering that she had received unanticipated income: “First, we will tithe to the church.”
7. Upon hearing a flimsy explanation from a young son: “Don’t you story to me now.”
8. When bidding farewell as I departed for various mission trips: “Don’t worry about me, you just go tell people about Jesus.”
9. When pondering what heaven will be like: “In heaven I’m going to be slim.”
10. Regarding her assurance in Christ: “I know that I know that I know, that I am saved.”
Bonus: Dad in his frail state, regarding the loss of his departed wife: “Mom’s in heaven. She’s waiting for me.” (Note: first time in 65 years Mom ever waited on Dad!)
Aloha Mom.