Final Salute

William G. “Bill” Bishop, Jr. Obituary

William G. “Bill” Bishop Jr., 91, died Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020.

He was born at home Monday, Feb. 10, 1929, to William (Gordie) and Mabel Funk Bishop of Perryville, Maryland. 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 U.S. 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 sons, 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 instrumental for many years 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 preceded in death by his wife Lucille; 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 parents’ 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 at 11 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 27, at Bayside Baptist Church, 1920 Pleasure House Road, Virginia Beach. There will be a reception at the church following the service.

Share online condolences with the family at Rosewood-Kellum Funeral Home.