William Gordie Bishop, Jr.

William G. (Bill) Bishop, Jr. was born at home on February 10th, 1929 to William (Gordie) and Mabel Funk Bishop of Perryville, MD. He was their second son, having lost their first son to the flu many years before. He was married for life to Lucille Borgwald (deceased) and they had three sons.

Bill graduated from Perryville High School and joined the Navy at age 17. He was justly proud of his time with the Naval Construction Battalion, the famed Navy “SeaBees.” In every endeavor he exemplified their motto, “CAN DO.”

Bill had a 30-year career with IBM as a Customer Engineer and Field Manager. IBM’s famous motto was “THINK!” Here again, he embraced this motto. He finished his work years at what was then Virginia National Bank.

In his retirement years he had several accomplishments that gave him great pleasure. Along with the Baptist men, he led the building of a Habitat for Humanity House. Equally satisfying was gaining his pilot’s license. Finally, he enjoyed projects with his son’s, including a home addition and small sailboat restoration.

Bill was dedicated to his church, Bayside Baptist. He was with the church when they were organized over the old Overton’s Market. Bill was many years instrumental in the church’s building program, from the original church building in 1964 to the more recent Family Life Center. There is no piece of equipment in that church that he was not intimately involved with its installation and maintenance.

Bill was predeceased by his wife Lucille, his eldest son, William Thomas and by their best friends, Bill and Nancy Smith. He is survived by sons John (Mary) and Robert (Katie), three grandsons, Jim, Bill and Stephen and one granddaughter, Ruth. He is also survived by a sister in law, Joan (John) Haithcock, niece Kathy (Chip) Louthan and nephew John (Kathy) Haithcock.

The family wishes to add special thanks to our parent’s church family, steadfast neighbors, and our father’s caregivers (Ms. Cathy and Doris). Nor can we forget Bill and Nancy’s daughter Jane (Paul) Ackiss and her devotion to our father.

We invite friends to a Memorial Service on Thursday, February 27th at 11:00 at Bayside Baptist Church, 1920 Pleasure House Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23455. There will be a reception at the church following the service. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.dignitymemorial.com (Rosewood-Kellum Funeral Home)