Richard Allen Bishop

RICHARD ALLEN (DICK) BISHOP Richard Allen (Dick) Bishop, age 91, passed away peacefully at his home near Bradley, Arkansas on February 1, 2012. The elder son of Col. Leonard A. Bishop and Verna Herron Bishop, he was born in Ellis Hospital, Schenectady, New York on August 29, 1920. Dick met his future wife, Marjorie Allen, while attending Ouachita Baptist College in Arkadelphia. They were married on September 12, 1943, in Las Vegas, Nevada, shortly before he was deployed for service in the Signal Corp of the U.S. Army, where he served for two years in the China-Burma-India Theater in World War II. After the war, he and his wife settled in upstate New York. He was employed by Bell Telephone, first as a lineman. He later became the company's youngest plant manager. In 1951, Dick moved his wife and their two young children south to Arkansas, where he farmed cotton and raised cattle. Five more children were born. He also worked part-time as a Lafayette County Deputy and in 1967 began working for the Arkansas Transportation Commission. He was soon promoted to Assistant Chief of Enforcement, retiring in 1982. After retirement, he continued as a reserve deputy sheriff. He was a member of Bradley Baptist Church, having served as a Sunday school teacher and BTU leader. He was a Boy Scout leader and particularly enjoyed taking Scouts on trail rides, including the Trail of Tears in Oklahoma. A flag-flying patriot, Dick was a life-long champion of the underdog. He was a prolific storyteller, especially about his boyhood in upstate New York, his wartime experiences in Burma, and his adventures as a lawman. Mr. Bishop was preceded in death by his parents and only brother, Robert Bishop. He is survived by his beloved wife, Margie Bishop; his sons Dickie Bishop and wife, Judy of Mountain View, Ark.; John Bishop and wife, Patsy of Bradley, Ark.; Jim Bishop and wife, Mary Ann of Mandeville, La.; daughters, Jeanne Rothwell and husband, Cecil of Bauxite, Ark.; Ann Rogers of husband Faron of El Dorado, Ark.; Sally Jones and husband, Mike of Magnolia, Ark.; and Margie Van and husband, Perry of Bradley, Ark.; 20 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and many dear nephews and nieces. Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, February 4, 2012, at Bradley Baptist Church with Pastor Faron Rogers and Pastor Aaron Leggett officiating, under the direction of Smith Funeral Homes of Stamps, Ark. Burial will follow at Walnut Hill Cemetery in Bradley, Ark. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m., Friday, February 3, 2012, at Bradley Baptist Church. The Family has requested that memorials may be made to the Arkansas Baptist Children's Home, P.O. Box 552, Little Rock, Ark., 72203. Online registration is available at www.aosmithfuneralhome.com.