Longtime friends of Cedarville University Bill and Nora Bolthouse will long be remembered, as Nora’s name is now honored in the Dixon Ministry Center.
Bill and Nora have supported the university for decades, with Bill serving on the board of trustees from 1996 to 2013 and Nora being named an honorary alumna in 2017. Bill currently serves as trustee emeritus.
Nora passed away in the summer of 2021, but before her passing, she and her husband commissioned artist and master penman Jake Weidmann to create a piece of art illustrating one of their favorite hymns— “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” Since commissioning this artwork, Bill requested “The Old Rugged Cross” and “Be Thou My Vision” to be included as a three-piece collection that now hangs in the Dixon Ministry Center.
Of the three pieces of artwork, the central piece is a wooden cross, much like the hymn describes, with ornately carved wood leafing. The hymn is scripted in an oval display, placed over the center of the cross. The second piece of art, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, features the scripted hymn, with birds and branches of a magnolia tree. Lastly, the Be Thou My Vision piece features the written hymn with a green harp and shield, pointing to its lyrics and Irish origins.
At the dedication of the commissioned work, Bill was reflective as he viewed the artwork behind glass with a black frame heading that read: “In memory of Nora Bolthouse and Her Love of the Arts and Sacred Hymns.”
When Bill first caught a glimpse of the display, he was overwhelmed with joy.
“I am so thankful to be able to have these pieces of art commissioned in memory of my wife and now on display at Cedarville University. The artwork just ‘pops’ in splendor behind the glass-framed display. It’s very tasteful and nice,” reflected Bill. “Nora loved the arts and hymns, and this artwork is a perfect tribute to her lifelong devotion to her faith in Jesus.”
The process for commissioning the artwork began when Bill’s son returned home from a Faith at Works conference in Denver, during which the younger Bolthouse saw some of Weidmann’s craft on display.
“My son met Jake at the conference and was impressed with Jake's creativity and skill,” said Bill. “When he returned, he told me that I should commission him to create artwork with the theme “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”
So, that is what happened.
Once the artwork was completed, it was displayed in the Bolthouse home until it was put on display at Cedarville on Wednesday, Oct. 19.
These favorite hymns speak to the heart of Nora. She cared deeply about her Savior, and that was evidenced by the way she cared for others. Bill and Nora were married for 62 years.
Now, as prospective and current students walk the hall inside the Bolthouse Center for Music, they will be reminded of the great hymns of the faith that brought so much encouragement to a longtime friend of Cedarville University.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 5,082 undergraduate, graduate, and dual-enrolled high school students in more than 175 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio, recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, high graduation, and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and the #4 national ranking by the Wall Street Journal for student engagement. For more information about the University, visit cedarville.edu.