William Henry Bishop

William Henry Bishop

Entered This Life in Sayre, Oklahoma

July 24, 1922

Departed This Life in Visalia, California

April 25, 2020

Graveside Memorial Service

Fowler Cemetery District

8524 South Fowler Avenue

Fowler, California

Thursday, October 8, 2020 at 10 a.m.

Officiating ~ Pastor Tom Olson

William Henry Bishop was born July 24, 1922 near Sayre, Oklahoma to James Jonah and Osciola.

He passed away April 25, 2020, 3 months shy of his 98th birthday and will be buried today

October 8, 2020 exactly 1 year after the passing of his wife of 68 years.

His family were poor farmworkers with 12 children. They did grow and prosper, his dad was the

first farmer in the county to buy a tractor, then the dust bowl and depression hit. The dust bowl

killed just about everything then the depression hit and then on top of all that, Henry’s mother died

when he was 11, leaving his poor farmer dad with a house full of children. For several years they

moved around doing what they could to survive, nearly starving at times. One by one the older

children migrated to California for a better life and eventually the others followed. Henry was

drafted into the Army in 1942 at the age of 22, this was during WW II. During his teen years he

had earned a First Aide Certificate so the Army trained him to be a medic, he then served on the

hospital ship , the Seminole, all thru his military service. While on the Seminole, he toured the

world, dodging bombs, going thru hurricanes and picking up our wounded soldiers, this was all

during war time. He had many stories of all the places he visited during this time, France,

England, Italy and Africa. After the service he settled in Fresno, California where his family was

and met his wife, Janet while she was still a junior in high school. After she graduated, they

married and started their family. In those early years he worked for Southern Pacific Railroad,

which was perfect since he had always loved trains. He left them after 10 years when they

insisted he relocate to L.A. and he didn’t want to raise his family there. He then worked 25 years

at Ranchers Cotton Oil before retiring in 1984. After retiring, he and Janet enjoyed frequent trips

to the coast, Laughlin and San Francisco. They stayed very active making sure they walked a

mile or even 5 just about everyday and they often were seen throwing a frisbee back and forth to

each other. He loved to watch the old westerns on tv and war movies. He also took great care

typing out his own autobiography (with lots of detail) on an old manual typewriter, it is a great

read. While in his early 90’s and still living in Fresno, I would receive and email from him every

morning, he loved the computer.

He is preceded in death by both his parents, his beloved daughter Nancy and his adoring wife,

Janet. And we also need to mention his devoted son-in-law Don and sweet granddaughter-in-law

Eva who also passed this year. He is survived by his son Gary and daughter Pat, son-in-law Bill

, 4 grandchildren, Sara and her husband Donny, Bill Jr, Erin and her husband Abram and Jarrod

along with 12 great grandchildren, he loved to tease his wife Janet during family gatherings

proudly telling her “look what you created”!!

He has been a pillar in his family all these years, a true example of how to live a humble and

honest life. His family is beyond proud and thankful for his life, a true hero in our family. He will be

well remembered for his sweet and quiet nature, his love for his dogs, and his love for travel.