Ronald Lyell Bishop, age 81, died Sunday, January 7, 2018 at Maury Regional Medical Center.
Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 11:00 A.M. at Graymere Church of Christ with John Vaughan and David Craig officiating. Burial will follow in Memory Gardens in Centerville. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 4:00-8:00 P.M. at the church. Oakes & Nichols Funeral Directors are assisting the family with arrangements.
The family suggests memorials be made to Columbia Academy, 1101 West 7th Street Columbia, TN 38401. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com.
Born July 12, 1936, in Lyles, TN in Hickman County at his grandparent’s home, he was the son of the late Fred William and the late Ruby Parker Bishop.
Ron graduated from Hickman Co. High School and joined the US Navy in 1955. He served in Japan, Hawaii and Florida working as an airplane mechanic and in the military police.
He married Barbara Rochelle in 1957. They lived in Dickson, where he built homes, rental properties and commercial buildings. He kept these properties, maintaining and leasing them until he sold them in 2016. Ron and his family moved to Columbia in 1974 to own and operate Ron Bishop Ford, Lincoln and Mercury Dealership for seven years. He worked with his good friend, Ted Houston for many years.
Ron joined the Kiwanis Club in 1974 and was honored by receiving the George Hixson Fellowship award in 2015. He was instrumental in starting a Tractor Pull, which was a major fundraiser for the Kiwanis for many years.
Ron and his family attend the Graymere Church of Christ where he served as a deacon for many years before becoming an Elder in April of 1997, resigning in 2016. As a member and elder, he worked closely with the Buildings and Grounds Committee. He helped the Church purchase two adjoining properties to increase the size of the parking lot and have additional buildings. With the help of Glen Hulen and Bob Shackleford, he helped build the bridge behind Graymere church over Bigby Creek in the flood plain. Across the creek, property was donated by Buddy Morgan to house the Graymere Preachers School operated by John Vaughan and Tom Holland each year. Preachers come from all over the country to attend this school taught by these learned men and others.
Ron and J.B. Napier were the closest of friends. They worked together on legislature to create and construct Highway 7 from Columbia to Dickson. They also worked together on the construction of the Columbia Dam and traveled to Washington, D.C. to stop the demolition of the Dam.
Ron and his family have traveled to every state except two, Oregon and Minnesota, traveling in a camper or their motor home. They have toured the Holy Lands twice, Mexico, Canada, London, Paris, Hawaii and cruised on the Mediterranean Sea and the Greek Islands.
Ron took classes at Columbia State in Real Estate and became a Broker, Certified Appraiser and Auctioneer, opening a real estate firm and sold and bought property for the next few years. He worked with Doug Boehms and owned and operated Norman Dean Land and Auction Company for several years.
He touched the lives of many quietly, loved his God most ardently and most of all was a treasured husband and father to his family.
Ron is survived by his wife, Barbara and three children, Bobby (Susan) Bishop, Becky Bishop Osborne and Billy (Brenda) Bishop. seven grandchildren: Josh (Kara) Bishop, Amy (Daniel) Neff, William Osborne, Brittany (Cole) Meador, Anna Rae Bishop, Brooke Bishop, Rachel Osborne and two great grandchildren, Cali Elizabeth Bishop and Tucker Daniel Neff.
Active pallbearers will be Bobby Bishop, Billy Bishop, Josh Bishop, William Osborne, Daniel Neff, Cole Meador, Tommy Stanfill, Jack Malone, and Daryl Osteen. Honorary pallbearers include Helen Hardison, Ann and Allen Elias, Ernestine and Ross Whitley, Dody Billingsley, and Elders and Deacons of Graymere Church of Christ.
