Helen E. Bishop
Helen E. Bishop was a real go-getter. She loved to talk to anyone and everyone.
“People would come by and loved to talk to her,” her daughter Nancy Green said. “She was very interested in people’s lives.”
Mrs. Bishop made a point to talk to everyone who came by, her daughter Marilyn Thorpe said.
“The post-lady came by today and was very upset to hear she had passed away,” Thorpe said. “She (Mrs. Bishop) had a way with her. Once you got to know her, you just wanted to talk to her.”
Mrs. Bishop of Columbia died Monday, June 16, 2008, at University Hospital. She was 93.
She was born April 11, 1915, in Edina to John and Mamie (Mettes) Fahey. Her family later moved to Fayette.
She married Wilber R. Bishop on Nov. 20, 1937.
Mrs. Bishop worked at the National Garment factory in Fayette, folding and pinning shirts, and later worked as a claims clerk for State Farm Insurance until 1976. She moved to Columbia about 25 years ago.
She enjoyed reading, gardening and spending time with her family. She was also a loyal member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, acting as a bell-ringer in 2000.
Even at the age of 93, Mrs. Bishop was an avid cook, often trying new recipes from magazines and the newspaper. She also loved to redecorate.
“Just this Saturday, she had two of my sisters here changing things around in her bedroom,” Thorpe said.
Mrs. Bishop is survived by a son, James R. Bishop of Onset, Mass.; five daughters, Nancy Green and Patricia Bassett, both of Columbia, Marilyn Thorpe of Ashland, Carolyn Layne of Bunceton and Emily O’Dell of Chillicothe; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Her husband; two infant sons; four brothers; two sisters; and one infant sister died earlier.
Visitation will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Parker Funeral Service, 22 N. Tenth St., with rosary at 7:30 p.m. Services, conducted by Monsignor Michael Flanagan, will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 903 Bernadette Drive. Burial will follow in Fayette City Cemetery.
Memorials may be given to St. Vincent DePaul Society or the Central Missouri Food Bank. Online tributes may be posted at parkerfuneralservice.com.
