Roger Cleveland Bishop passed peacefully March 15, 2025, at home in Huntsville, Alabama, surrounded by family and friends. Roger is a Huntsville native, born in 1938, to Guy S. and Johnnie Mae Bishop.
Roger attended East Clinton Elementary, Colombia Military Academy in Tennessee, and Emory University. He grew up on the grounds and among the giant pecan trees of Quietdale, a pre-Civil War home in Northeast Huntsville. After college, Roger married his Sweetie, Ann, and started his career in banking. But he quickly found sales and working with people to be his passion. Early in his career, he enjoyed success with Interlake Steel Co., who moved Roger and his growing family from one side of the country to the other. Finally, in 1978, Roger gave up the road and moved back to Huntsville, where he and his wife opened a furniture store. They took on the challenges of running a business like they did the challenges of raising five kids: with humor and a lot of patience. But the road beckoned again, so he returned to sales in the mid-1980s, working for True Manufacturing, out of St. Louis, Missouri. His territory was the entire Southeast, which he passionately developed for more than two decades, until his retirement at age 70. Roger always counted his blessings, and his career was a big one.
Roger grew up an Alabama football super fan. His parents were also super fans—a portrait of Paul Bear Bryant hung above the television in their home. There is no way to count the number of games that Roger, his wife, and family have attended over the decades. His passion and knowledge of Alabama football could rival anyone’s. And that passion related to many aspects of his life: travel, gardening, golf, good food and spirits, classical music, and spending time with friends and family. He especially looked forward to the monthly breakfast gatherings with his beloved Patterson cousins and the fun times with his Huntsville childhood friends.
Roger will be remembered as a good father and friend. Stoic and so funny, Roger had a quiet lust for life. He was once a runner, a serious clothes horse, a member of the Tallulah Bankhead Society, and had a soft heart for people who couldn’t help themselves. In retirement, Roger scored an invitation to showcase his beautiful yard on the Twickenham Garden Tour.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ann Bishop; his daughters, Chris Jackson (Dan); Holley Debs (Patrick); Mary Katherine Schenkel (Todd Kring); and Lauren Cooper (Preston); his son, Roger Bishop Jr.; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and his brother, John H. Bishop (Dianne).
There is a memorial service at the Episcopal Church of Nativity on Eustis Avenue, Huntsville, on Friday, March 21, 10:30 a.m., followed by a visitation in Ridley Hall and burial at Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the Bishop family asks that you consider donating to Hospice Family Care of Huntsville (https://hhcaringforlife.org/) and/or the Historic Huntsville Foundation (https://www.historichuntsville.org/).
