Nancy Bidwell Barcus

Barcus, Nancy November 9, 1937 – October 19, 2005 Nancy Ellen Bidwell Barcus, 67, joined the community of saints in life eternal Wednesday, October 19, 2005 in St. Catherines’s hospice after a valiant and courageous battle with cancer. Services will be at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, October 22 at 10:00 AM with Father Charles Treadwell and Father Frank Mangum officiating. Interment will follow in the columbarium at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. The family will receive visitors at their home on Friday, October, 21 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Nancy was born November 9, 1937 in Cleveland, Ohio to Paul and Doris Bidwell. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky Phi Beta Kappa with dual certification in English and violin and the Master of Arts degree in English from the State University of New York at Geneseo. A gifted and dedicated teacher of English and violin, she held positions at Houghton College NY, Moody Bible College, Baylor University and in Waco Independent School District. In addition to teaching, she authored ten books including Developing a Christian Mind; Help Me, God, I’m a Working Mother; No Excuses Accepted; and a series of volumes containing her poems and photographs celebrating the beauty of Central Texas. At Baylor University, Nancy wrote articles for University Development that interpreted faculty research for the general public. In addition, she wrote a monthly column for Discover Waco, later Etc., and finally, Wacoan. Throughout her life, she sought to bring the joy of music to all she contacted. For more than 20 years, she played the violin in the Waco Symphony Orchestra, but her passion was to teach children, especially the underprivileged, that making music was a lifelong and rewarding activity. At J. H. Hines and then Alta Vista Schools, she taught hundreds of students the pleasures and joy of playing the violin. Nancy is survived by her husband of forty-four years, Dr. James E. Barcus, Jr.; daughter, Heidi Anne Barcus of Knoxville, TN; son, James Hans Barcus of Houston; Jeff Thomas of Phoenix, AZ and his daughter, Lauryn. Among the friends she leaves bereft are her special caregiver, Kathy Witt of Knoxville, TN, as well as Helen Bailey and Hazel Rowe of Waco. She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Doris Bidwell and her brother Alan Bidwell. The family wishes to thank the physicians and staff of The Methodist Hospital of Houston, especially Dr. Daniel LeHane and the exceptionally caring and supportive staff of the hospice at St. Catherine’s In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Robert Gilbert Memorial Scholarship Fund at Baylor University, to the organ fund at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, or to the donor’s favorite charity. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey