Rev. Earl Bishop

Bishop

Rev. Earl S. Bishop 84 of Lancaster, Ohio went home to be with his Lord on Thursday, September 27, 2012 at Fairfield Medical Center.
Rev. Bishop is a graduate of Amelia High School, Amelia, Ohio; Asbury College, Wilmore, Kentucky where he received a B.A. Degree in History; and United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio with a Master of Divinity.
In 1949, he was appointed to the Hamersville Circuit. Other churches served were Gettysburg and Pittsburg, West Mansfield, at Columbus Brookshire United Methodist Church and Christian Endeavor United Methodist Church in Newark, Ohio. He retired in September 1993 and moved to the Lancaster Camp Ground and later became the Pastor of Dumontville United Methodist Church.
Rev. Bishop has been active in music, youth work, radio and television. He initiated and directed a half hour weekly show, “Home Town – USA!” which was broadcast from Bellefontaine, Ohio. He also produced nine “Church By the Side of the Road” TV programs; has appeared eighty times in devotional services on channels 4, 6, and 10 Columbus, Ohio.
He was very active in many areas of his life. He was a science teacher at Bradford High School, Volunteer Firefighter, Ohio Conference Methodist Ministers’ Choir, Boy Scouts of America, Twenty-eight Day Concert Tour of Great Britain, North and Central Europe, Kiwanis – Club, Columbus, Ohio, West High School Band Boosters Association, Civil Air Patrol Chaplain, trip to Israel, President Briggs High School Boosters Association, deeply involved with all aspects of the Lancaster Camp Grounds and West Ohio Conference Committee.
Rev. Bishop has led singing or preached for evangelistic services and special local church, district and conference meetings since 1947.
His hobbies and interests included woodworking, model railroading, antique and classic autos, flower gardening, house restoration, history and camping.
He is survived by his daughter, Barbara Bishop of Columbus, Ohio; sons, John (Lois) Bishop of Upper Arlington, Ohio and Jim (Lesa) Bishop of Lancaster, Ohio; grandchildren, Brian and Sarah Bishop; brothers, George Bishop and Marvin (Dianna) Bishop of the Cincinnati area; sister, Anna Marie (Don) Weak of the Cincinnati area; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Caplinger of Blanchester, Ohio; many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Norma Jean Bishop in 2012, parents, Marvin and Mabel Bishop.
A celebration of life service will be held Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Robert McDowell officiating. Friends may visit Monday, from 4-7 p.m. at the FRANK E. SMITH FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY, 405 N. COLUMBUS ST., LANCASTER, OHIO 43130. Caring Cremation to follow the visiting hours. Friends may visit 1 hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.
Memorial gifts may be given to the Fairfield County Foundation, LCG Auditorium Fund, 162 E. Main St., Lancaster, Ohio 43130; check memo line needs to read LCG Auditorium Fund.
To send an online condolence, and sign the guest book, please visit www.funeralhome.com.