Obituary - Published in the Topeka Capital Journal, Jan. 7, 2015
Francis Vernon Bishop 1929-2015
Our beloved husband, brother, and father Francis Vernon Bishop completed his earthly journey January 3, 2015 in Topeka.
Francis was born February 4, 1929 in Andover, New Brunswick, Canada. He was the youngest of five sons of Frank Bishop and Viota Isabel Stewart. Francis is tge descendent of Scottish and French immigrants to the Maritime Province of New Brunswick, Canada.
After graduation from Andover High School, Francis followed his brother Charles to Kansas City. Uncle Charlie was an airline pilot and avid art collector. The brothers shared a lifelong passion for aviation and art. Francis enrolled at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg where he met his true love, Anna Ruth Crockett of Albany MO. They graduated from CMSU in 1950.
Francis joined the U.S. Army, 1st Cavalry, serving in the Korean Conflict. While on leave, he and Ruth married May 21, 1951 at First Methodist Church, St. Joseph, Missouri. They honeymooned at Lake of the Ozarks. Francis was proudly naturalized as U.S. citizen in 1953. He honorably discharged from the Army with rank of Corporal and attended Kansas University to study petroleum engineering. He graduated and joined Texaco Oil on assignment to Cut Bank, Montana where son Stewart was born in 1954. Francis and Ruth later settled in Topeka, Kansas, and were blessed with daughter Reta Jane in 1960.
After retirement from Kansas Board of Health, Francis volunteered for the VA Hospital, logging over 17,000 hours. Francis is survived by his wife, son, daughter, daughter-in-law Antonia, sister Catherine, and pet cat Mozart. Antonia brought Francis much support and joy in his later days. He always told her Toni, keep a strong song in your heart and tell Mom we love her .
Francis had a great sense of humor, was profoundly honest, and stayed optimistic in the face of great challenges. He enjoyed art, auctions, stamp collecting, cars, aviation, birds, gardening, Siamese cats and Airedale dogs. Francis loved the Lutheran Church and sincerely confessed all oaths. He believed and taught that we are saved by faith not deeds. Visitation and lunch followed by memorial service is at 12 noon, Friday January 9, at Faith Lutheran Church, 17th and Gage. Burial is at a later date. All friends, family, and congregation are invited.
More on Francis life is at: http://www.forevermissed.com/francis-vernon-bishop. He is forever in our hearts.
Topeka Capital Journal Francis Vernon Bishop - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/cjonline/obituary.aspx?n=francis-bishop&pid=173758986#sthash.n75abWTG.dpuf