Extracted from The Laurel Leader-Call (Laurel, MS)
Wednesday, August 2, 2006

William B. Bishop

William B. ``Bill'' Bishop Sr., 80, of Laurel, died Thursday, July 27, 2006, at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, at Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel, with burial in Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Laurel. The Rev. Mark Covington will officiate.

He was a retired self-employed welder and was a member of Pipe Fitters Union Local 798. He served in the United States Navy during World War II as a hospital corpsman in San Diego, Calif., and was a member of American Legion Post 11. A member of Antioch Baptist Church in Louin, he attended Kingston United Methodist Church in Laurel. He was a Mason.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Pierce J. Bishop Sr. and Ida McNeil Bishop; a sister, Hazel Bishop Dye; and two brothers, P.J. Bishop and James Curtis Bishop.

He is survived by his wife, Mercedes Bernal Bishop of Laurel; a son, William Bishop Jr. of Laurel; a daughter, Maria Amalia Bishop of Charleston, W.V.; and four grandchildren, Rachel Chaffin of Toyama, Japan, and Sarah Chaffin, Beau Chaffin and Elizabeth Chaffin, all of Winfield, W.V.

Pallbearers will be Chip Gieger, Kenneth McNeil, Beau Chaffin, Ryan Myrick and Lonnie Hicks. Honorary pallbearers will be Brian Bishop, Larry Dye and Billy Kelly.

Memorials may be made to Kingston United Methodist Church, Mission Projects, 1419 Second Ave., Laurel, Ms. 39440.

Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, at Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel, which is in charge of arrangements.