Roy Wayne Bishop
Roy Wayne Bishop
August 6, 2010
Roy Wayne Bishop, Sr., was born on July 25, 1936, in Russellville, to parents James L. Bishop and Myrtie Bell Trapp Bishop. They are both now deceased.
He was raised in Russellville with his brothers Guy, Leo, Leon, Ray, Ralph, and Larry Bishop, which are all now deceased, and sisters Mable Lynda Bishop, of Sheffield, and Diane Bishop Miller and her husband, Harold, of Russellville.
Roy graduated from Russellville High School in 1955. He continued his education at Northeast Mississippi Junior College in Booneville, Miss., where he lettered in baseball and football his freshman and sophomore years. He started as third-baseman and quarterback both years. Roy played under Coach Horace McCool. Coach McCool often took Roy on recruiting trips because of his leadership on and off the field.
He went on to attend Auburn University and Florence State Teachers College.
In 1964, while living in Huntsville and working for Chrysler, he married Mary Linda Hardin, of Fayetteville, Tenn. She is now deceased.
Roy was later employed by Redstone Arsenal where he had the honor of working with the Space Program. While living in Huntsville, Roy and Linda had children, Wayne (now deceased) and Debbie. In 1977 Roy obtained a position with TVA and their family moved to Tuscumbia. While living in the community of Colbert Heights they had two more daughters, Monica and Jennifer.
In 1996, after more than 39 years of service, Roy retired from the Alabama Army National Guard achieving the rank of PSG-E7. He later retired from TVA in 1999 after working as an Engineering Assistant and Draftsman. Roy’s retirement allowed him to enjoy the things that he loved the most; sports of any and all kinds, the company of his friends and family, the company of his daughters and son-in-laws: Debbie and Mike Williams, of Florence, Monica and Shane Knight, of Tuscumbia, and Jennifer and Justin Taylor, of Athens.
Papa Roy delighted most of all in the company of his grandchildren: Harrison, Lindsey and Lila Williams, Evelyn Grimes, and Caroline Taylor.
Roy Wayne Bishop, Sr., 74, passed away Friday, Aug. 6, 2010, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He was a loving father, grandfather (Papa), brother, uncle and friend to many and will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
Funeral services were held Monday, Aug. 9, 2010, at Pinkard Funeral Home with Dr. Kenneth Taylor officiating. Burial was in East Franklin Cemetery.
