Ruth Ellen Bishop

Ruth Ellen Bishop was welcomed into the arms of her loving Savior on Thursday, June 8, 2023. She was surrounded by her husband and children who held her hands as she crossed into heaven’s glorious realm.

Born on June 26, 1936 to Ford and Lucy (Foster) Malson in Muncie, Indiana, Ruth was the youngest of their two children. Ruth grew up in Marion, Indiana, and graduated from Marion High School where she watched many Marion Giants basketball games. Music also played a large role in Ruth’s life. She played the viola in high school and could often be found singing in trios or other musical groups throughout high school, college and beyond. As an adult, she loved any music that came from the Gaither music groups and their videos were a great source of joy for her to watch.

The daughter of a preacher and a teacher, Ruth eventually went to Taylor University and received a degree in education to teach English. During one of her college summers, she worked at the library in Marion, where she met the nephew of the head librarian, Jack Bishop. The two wed on June 12, 1959 and shortly thereafter moved to Longview, Texas where Jack completed his education at LeTourneau University. While in Texas, Ruth welcomed two babies, Tim and Lori.

In 1963 Ruth moved with her husband and children to Freeport, Illinois, then in 1966 to Kokomo, Indiana, following along with Jack’s career. After moving to Indiana, Ruth gave birth to two more babies, Todd and Lynette. In 1972, Ruth returned to teaching and taught until the late 1980s, teaching 6th grade through 12th grade English. While teaching, raising a family and keeping a handle on everyone’s lives, Ruth earned her Master’s degree in education at Indiana University. Ruth left a strong legacy of education, and many students would return after graduation to thank her for being their most difficult teacher because she was the only one who prepared them for college.

After retiring from teaching, Ruth picked up a new career as an assistant in the accounting department of a local company that sold upgraded electronics for automobiles. She worked alongside Jack until her retirement in early 2000. In 1997, Ruth and Jack moved to Wesleyan Village in Brooksville, Florida where they lived until Ruth’s passing.

Ruth was a sweet and gentle soul – until Indiana University basketball came on the television. No one bothered to call her during a game because it would be a one-sided conversation. She was often heard yelling “you stupe!” or “oh gee-wiz!” to the television. One could never be sure if it was in reference to the players, the refs or the announcers. But one thing was certain: Ruth loved sports.

Ruth also loved the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Indianapolis Colts, and of course, all things Florida Gators. She got her love of sports honestly. When she was a teenager, her father took her to her first professional sports game where they watched the Cleveland Indians play. And her mother spent many a night listening to basketball games on the radio, with Ruth joining in.

Ruth loved her family and as the “matriarch,” she was witness to many wonderful additions in life. She was blessed with eleven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Her ninth great grandchild will be born in November, 2023. She loved her family with an unparalleled fervor and she gave the best hugs.

She committed wholly to her hugs and you never walked away from her doubting how she felt about you.

One of Ruth’s best qualities was her ability to laugh at just about anything, including herself. She loved to watch children playing sports, of course, and would laugh in pure delight as they fumbled about the field or court, learning to handle the ball with less than grace and aplomb.

The greatest joy in Ruth’s life was having her entire family together. With so many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, the family outings tended to be noisy and chaotic. But it was a chaos that she loved.

Ruth’s most important role, however, was that of prayer warrior. She had pages of names of folks she had met over the course of many years. Each morning she sat faithfully with her coffee, her bible and her prayer list and prayed for every single name on that list, starting with her own family. When she said she would pray for someone, she not only meant it—she did it!

Her faith was as strong and unwavering as that of her namesake in the Bible. Even in her darkest hours, she clung to the word of God as her lifeline and praised the name of the Lord, her ever present help in trouble.

As Proverbs 31:28-29 reads, “Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Many women do noble things, but you (Ruth) surpass them all.”

Ruth is survived by her beloved husband of 64 years, Jack. She is also survived by her son Tim (Ann) Bishop, daughter Lori (Charlie Shelley) Bishop, son Todd Bishop, and daughter Lynette Snell; grandchildren Ryan (Greta) Bishop, Rebecca (Will) Couey, Elizabeth Bishop, Maggie Bishop, Nathaniel Bishop, Molly (Isaiah Collins) Snell, TJ Snell, Christina (Dacia) Howard, Rocshell Washington, Danyel (Dontrel) Hall; great grandchildren Olivia Bishop, Josiah Bishop, Marshall Bishop, Kiara Collins, Naomi Collins, Krissy Washington Howard, Deon Hall, Duece Hall; nieces Janet (Larry) Ashabranner, Elaine (Daryl) Riggs-Zuk, Jeannine Book and Melissa Moody. Ruth was preceded in death by her father, Ford Byron Malson, her mother, Mildred Lucy Foster, her sister Joyce Ann Riggs, and her grandson Danny Washington.

A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at Brooksville Wesleyan Church, 22319 Cortez Blvd, Brooksville, FL 34601, at 11:00 am, with a Memorial Gathering starting at 10:00 am. Flowers appreciated but donations to Hernando-Pasco Hospice or Gideons International are gratefully welcomed.