Obituaries

William Bruce Bishop

Photo of William Bruce Bishop
William Bruce Bishop, M.D. died Jan. 23, 2012. Bill was born in Caney, Kan., on Sept. 5, 1932 and grew up in Fort Smith, Ark. during the depth of the Great Depression. He was able to earn enough money for one year of college and then moved to Chicago to work his way through an RN program. He served as a nurse in the Army during the Korean conflict. Afterwards, working as a nurse and with the GI Bill, he attended the University of Arkansas, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. He received his medical degree from the University of Arkansas Medical School, graduating Alpha Omega Alpha. After his internship and residency in internal medicine, he completed a fellowship in cardiology at UAMS. He practiced medicine for 30 years with the Little Rock Diagnostic Clinic. Bill loved his patients and the practice of medicine. He also loved music, particularly classical music, and especially opera. He had studied piano all through his early schooling and also played the organ. In later years, he was something of an "opera tramp," traveling wherever he could find opera performances. His love translated into his strong support of opera programs in Little Rock. Bill is survived by his wife, Peyton Bishop; three children, Christie Karcher (Matt) of Orlando, Fla.; Bruce Bishop (Carri) of Franklin Lakes, N.J.; and Kathryn (Giles) Stanley of East Worldham, Great Britain. There are five grandchildren: Lexy and Will Bishop, Robert and Adrienne Karcher, and William Stanley. He is also survived by his siblings, Charlotte Bishop of Burlington, Wash., Saray Jauchler (Jerry) of Memphis, Tenn., Garth Bishop (Ellen) of Hollywood, Calif., Carolyn Castleman (Dale) of Phoenix, Ariz., and Jean Armstrong (John) of Baton Rouge, La. The family expresses its gratitude to our wonderful caregivers: Sam Bones, Joe Boyd, William Wilson and Beverly and Lee Patterson. A special thank-you is extended to the Baptist Medical System and the Baptist Hospice Program for the excellent and compassionate care Bill received. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Baptist Health Foundation, 9601 Interstate 630, Exit No. 7, Little Rock, Ark. 72205; UAMS Foundation, 4301 W. Markham, Slot No. 642, Little Rock, Ark. 72205; or UALR Foundation – Opera Fund, 2801 S. University, Little Rock, Ark. 72204. In celebration of his life, a family visitation will be held in Christ the King Family Life Center, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., followed by a rosary in the church sanctuary. The mass of Christian burial will be celebrated by Monsignor Francis I. Malone, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012, at 10 a.m., at Christ the King Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.

Published January 29, 2012

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