Richard Dawson Bishop

Richard Dawson “Dick” Bishop, 81, of Amity, passed peacefully into heaven with his loving family at his bedside, in Washington Hospital, on Wednesday, December 7, 2011. He had been in declining health. Dick was born April 11, 1930, in West Pittston, the eldest son of the late D.C. and Camilla Bishop. In 1948, he graduated from West Pittston High School, and in 1952, from Bloomsburg State College, with a B.S. in accounting. He was drafted into the Army in March 1953 and served two years at Camp Rucker, AL and Ft. Benning, GA., and was discharged as a Sergeant 1st Class. On January 1, 1953, he married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Davis. It was a very happy marriage, blessed with four children, daughters, Olivia Gump and Sheridan, of Metz, WV, Betsy Kotora, of Waynesburg, a son, Richard Bishop and Tammy, of Amity; and a daughter, the late Laurie Jones, formerly of Nashville, TN. In May 1955, he worked in accounting at Johns/Manville Corporation in New Jersey, and then left to teach high school mathematics at Mt. Penn High School in Reading for five years. While in Reading, he earned his Masters Degree from Temple University, graduating in 1959. On August 9, 1960, he accepted a position as school principal of Amity and Lone Pine schools. He totally enjoyed his work in education and was superintendent of Trinity Area School District for eighteen years. He then became Superintendent of schools at South Moreland School District. He retired in 1986 at the age of fifty-five. Dick was also on the Trinity Area School Board and was a member of Amwell Township Historical Society, president of the Amwell Township Water Authority, was involved with Camp Concern Christian Youth Camp, and a faithful member of the Church of Christ in Washington, since moving to the area in 1960. He was a proud, loving, caring “Grandpa” and “Papa”, to Jalane Stanley, of Fairmont, WV, Jalena Baumgardner, of Concord, NC, Joshua Gump, of Burton, WV, Tanner Dawson Kotora, of Waynesburg, Lindy Jones and Lance Jones, of Nashville, TN, Seth Bishop, and Kelsey Bishop, of Amity, and a great grandson, Colton Stanley, of Fairmont. Dick also leaves with many fond memories, his brothers, Kenneth Bishop, of Trenton, NJ and Dr. Robert Bishop, of Pittston, and their families. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be 12-4, and 5-8 p.m., Saturday, in William G Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue. Services will be at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 11, 2011, at Church of Christ, with John Wright and David Deagel, co-officiating. Burial will be 1:30 p.m., Monday, in the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Bridgeville. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the American Heart Association, 777 Penn Center Boulevard, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15235, American Lung Association, for research, 810 River Avenue, Suite 140, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, Amwell Township Volunteer Fire Department, 688 Amity Ridge Road, Amity, PA 15311, or Church of Christ, 700 Allison Avenue, Washington, PA 15301.