William Bishop

WILLIAM HOWARD BISHOPAge 43, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Friday, June 8, 2012 in Albuquerque, NM. Will fought a courageous battle with cancer over the past eight months. His determination and bravery never faltered during his illness. He was true to his spirit and absolute drive for life until the end. Will was born on March 14, 1969 to Gary and Sonita (Gibson) Bishop in Emporia, Kansas. He graduated from Dodge City Senior High in 1987 and completed a bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from Kansas State University in 1992. Will was an adventurous soul. He was an avid motocross competitor, a snow skier, he competed in long distance bicycle marathons and was a water sports enthusiast. He enjoyed K-state sports and was a K-state fan his whole life. He also enjoyed spending time with his family and many friends. Over the years, Will lived in many different locations while working as an industrial engineer focusing on quality. He was certified as a quality control engineer. His work led him to Kansas, Missouri and Michigan where he made friends for life he kept in touch with over the years. He most recently worked for Herman Miller in Zeeland, MI for 12 years. His Herman Miller family was very special to him. He loved working there and loved his friends in Michigan dearly. Will is survived by his parents, Gary and Sonita (Gibson) Bishop of Albuquerque, NM; sister, Dana (Bishop) Aragon and husband, Juan; nephew and niece, Justin and Jordan, also of Albuquerque. His paternal grandmother, Jeannette Bishop of Lansing, Kansas also survives. Will also has many cousins, aunts and uncles who he loved dearly. Family was very important to Will. He knew the value of family and demonstrated his love for them often. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Wilbur Curtis Bishop and his maternal grandparents, Robert and Imogene Gibson. Although Will's journey is complete, he will not be forgotten. He was a special person with a kind heart and giving spirit who touched so many lives. Everyone that met Will made a friend. As a testament to Will's resolve to fight cancer to the end, he left this life on his terms. He rode off into the sunset of a beautiful desert sky. Funeral services will take place on Friday, June 15, 2012, near Atchison, KS at 2:00 p.m. in the Mooney Creek Parish Catholic Church. Interment to follow services. A Prayer Service will be held on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at the Becker Dyer Stanton Funeral Home in Atchison, KS from 6:30-8:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the William Howard Bishop Memorial Scholarship Fund for engineering students to attend Kansas State University.