Elmer Bishop

Army Sgt. Elmer H. Bishop, Jr, born on March 20, 1929 in Pawtucket, RI to Winifred and Elmer Bishop, Sr, passed away suddenly on June 14, 2012 at St. Anthony's Hospital in Gig Harbor, WA. He proudly served in Italy shortly after World War II. He retired in 1979 as a Correctional Captain from the then Federal Penitentiary at McNeil Island. He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Patricia L. Bishop. Their 1950 church wedding was suddenly cancelled when he came down with ptomaine poisoning. Instead, they had a private ceremony in his room at Yakima Memorial Hospital. For their 50th wedding anniversary, the hospital gave them a dinner "on the house," as they were the only couple to ever have gotten married in that hospital. However, she claimed she only married him because she thought he was going to die and he claimed he only said "I do," because he was delirious. Elmer is survived by his four children, Patricia (Val) Iliff, Richard Bishop, Ronald (Judy) Bishop and Susan (Mark) Randall, as well as 11 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. In the words of one of his grandchildren: "He had a kind heart, was a funny guy and one tough dude." He will be sorely missed by his family and all who knew him. Graveside services will be 12:30pm, June 20, 2012 at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent. Online memorial at www.rill.com .