Deb was born March 22, 1960, in Lansing, Michigan to Harvey and Patricia Bennett. She grew up in Holt, Michigan and graduated from Holt High School and was a member of the National Honors Society. She attended Central Michigan University for bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She became a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society during that time. She went on to attend Purdue University for her PhD (doctorate) degree.
During her first semester at CMU Deb met the boy of her dreams, Bill Bishop, in the coed-dorm next door. Deb and Bill were married on August 16, 1980, in Mason, Michigan. They lived in married student housing in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan for one year before settling down in Perry, Michigan. During Deb's tenure at Purdue University, she stayed in married student housing at Purdue and either Deb or Bill commuted on the weekends to see one another during the school year. During the last two years at Purdue, Deb spent two years teaching at the University of Indiana at Kokomo which was located on her commute back to Michigan. She spent 28 years as an Instructor of Sociology and Anthropology at Lansing Community College. Many of those years she took on the role of Lead Faculty for the Social Science Department. In 2003 she was hit broadside by a drunk driver and disabled with limited ambulatory ability, traumatic brain injury and chronic pain. She fought hard to get back to work and after two years of physical and occupational therapy she was able to return. She retired in January 2019 due to the chronic pain issues not allowing her to work full time. She was voted runner up in the "Lansing City Pulse - Top of the Town College Instructors 2020".
Deb was an avid reader with a personal library of nearly 1000 books and several hundred more on her Kindle. In addition, she loved flying kites, camping with family and friends, traveling, cooking (especially for family get togethers), gardening, swimming and coloring adult coloring books. She was a gifted storyteller who kept students entertained and gave them real life examples which helped them grasp Sociological concepts. She was generous especially with her time for friends, family and students and she also helped many people who were down on their luck by buying them meals as she passed by them.
Deb is survived by her husband Bill of Perry, daughter Erin of Holt, brother Phil of Mason, four nephews, four nieces, 6 great nephews and 5 great nieces. She was preceded in death by her father Harvey Bennett, mother Patricia Bennett and brother William Bennett.
Deb will be remembered for her kind and caring nature, her sense of humor and storytelling, her never give up attitude and of course the "chemo shoes". Thank you to all our friends and family who have given their time, shared their food, sent cards, letters, and gifts or sent their thoughts and prayers during Deb's battle with cancer. She felt very blessed to have so many supporters in her life.
In lieu of flowers please consider donating to The Care Team Home Health and Hospice at 5401 Gateway Center suite D Flint, MI 48507, or to the American Cancer Society American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741.
Visitation will be held on Monday July 18, 2022, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm and from 6:00pm to 8:00pm with a rosary prayer at 7:00pm at Gorsline-Runciman Funeral Homes Ball-Dunn Chapel, 621 S. Jefferson St., Mason, Michigan. Funeral services will be on Tuesday July 19, 2022, starting with an 11:00am mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church 955 Alton Rd., East Lansing, Michigan. Interment to follow at Evergreen Cemetery.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.grbdmason.com for the Bishop family.
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