Frank W. "Bill" Needle, Jr.

FRANK WILLIAM �Bill� NEEDLE, JR. Bill Needle, 80, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri died Thursday, September 8, 2011 at Southeast Hospital. He was born October 1, 1930 in Collinsville, Illinois. His mother was Ruth Emily Hadfield Needle and his father was Frank William Needle from Collinsville. Bill graduated from Collinsville High School in 1948. He was class valedictorian. He earned a four-year scholarship to Washington University, St. Louis, and majored in art. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Washington University in 1952 and earned his Master of Fine Arts degree in commercial art from University of Kansas, Lawrence in 1953. He began teaching art at the University of Kansas until drafted into the Army and served from1954-1956, qualifying as a Korean War Veteran, stateside. After his term of service in the Army he became an instructor in commercial art at Illinois Wesleyan University in Normal, Illinois. On June 7, 1958 he married Ruth Reichert in Bloomington, Illinois and moved back to Collinsville. He taught art at McCluer North High School in St. Louis until 1967. In 1967 he began at Southeast Missouri State University as an assistant professor of art, eventually becoming full professor of art in 1978. Bill was professor emeritus of Art History and Egyptology at Southeast Missouri State University and chairman of the Art Department, where he taught for 25 years. Upon invitation, he taught art history at the Imperial College in London in 1987. He retired from SEMO in 1988 to devote more time to creating and marketing his personalized hieroglyphic drawings. Bill started his own business, Hieroglyphics LTD, in the fall of 1976. He and Ruth have gained national recognition for their 35 years of work in producing authentic Egyptian hieroglyphic drawings in art shows across the country. These unique drawings can be found in twenty-six countries and all fifty states. Bill was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Cape where he served as an elder. He loved God and loved the church but felt that he did not have the gift of evangelism, so used his artistic abilities to spread God�s love, helping numerous churches raise money by donating prints of original oil paintings depicting Christ's ministry. He had earned the honor of lifetime membership in the American Research Center in Egypt and was elected into the Egypt Exploration Society of London. He also was a member of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri and had a 60 year retrospective exhibit this past April. He taught part time after retirement from SEMO, but never retired from his artistic endeavors and public speaking. He was the featured speaker at the Missouri Southern State University in Joplin this past Tuesday, September 6. Survivors include Wife, Ruth Needle of Cape Girardeau, MO. Son, William (�Bill�) Bruce Needle, wife Sandra of Bonner Springs, KS. Daughters, Ruth Ellen Coats, husband Paul of Columbus, GA. Jennifer Katherine (Kathy) Elliot , husband Michael of Ashland, MO. Two Grandchildren, Emily Elizabeth and David Andrew Coats. Preceded in death by Parents Visitation will be Sunday, September 11, 2011 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. Funeral will be Monday, September 12, 2011 at 10:00 AM at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Bill Vincent officiating. Entombment will follow at Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum. Memorial contributions may be given to First Presbyterian Church (General Fund),

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Frank W. "Bill" Needle, Jr.

September 8, 2011