D.W. Bishop, Jr.(Lebanon)'s Obituary
Dauthard William “D.W. “ Bishop, Jr. son of D. William Bishop, Sr. and Lois E. Haynes Bishop, was born May 21, 1919, in Little Rock, Arkansas. He departed this life Saturday, August 2, 2014, in his home, near Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of ninety-five years, two months, and eleven days.
On August 6, 1942, in a brief ceremony in Norfolk, Virginia, he was united in marriage to his long time sweetheart, Gwendolyn B. Flemming, and to this union two sons were born.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Jim Bishop.
D.W. is survived by his loving wife of almost seventy-two years, Gwen, of the home; two sons, D. W. “Bill” Bishop, of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and Richard “Rick” Bishop, and his wife, Jan, of Lebanon, Missouri; five grandchildren, Hannah Bishop, Jared Bishop, Drew Bishop, Chelsey Reeves, and Casey Reeves; a great-grandson, Boone Stander; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
He was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and then moved with his family to Tulsa, Oklahoma when he was three years old. Two years later, the family moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where D.W. graduated from high school and attended college. In the year leading up to World War II, he enrolled in Officers Training School for the United States Navy, and received his officer’s commission. He was assigned to the U.S.S. Texas and saw action in Europe. In 1944, he was transferred to the U.S.S. Missouri and became the first person from Missouri to be on that ship. He became the Chief Gunnery Officer on the Missouri and was involved in various conflicts in the Pacific including Iwo Jima and Okinawa. On September 2, 1945, he was one of the 3000 men to witness the surrender of Japan on board the Missouri.
After being honorably discharged from the Navy, D.W. returned to Kansas City and took over his father’s furniture manufacturing business. In 1959, D.W. left his father’s business and moved his family to Lebanon, Missouri. He went into partnership with his brother, Jim, and formed Bishop of Lebanon Furniture Manufacturing. This business prospered for many years, and upon the sudden passing of his brother in 1972, D.W. became the sole owner. In 1979, the business was sold and D.W. stayed on in a management role until retiring in 1984.
D.W. had made his profession of faith in Christ and was a longtime member of First Christian Church in Lebanon.
He was very active in civic affairs and had served on the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce and was president of the Lebanon Country Club. After retiring, D.W. stayed very active serving on the Board of Directors for the United Savings and Loan, which later became Mercantile Bank and finally U.S. Bank. He loved art and opened an art gallery where he sold paintings and also did framing. His family was very dear to him, and he was always doing whatever he could to help them. He loved his grandchildren, and was interested in how they were doing and greatly enjoyed when they were around.
D.W. was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and his accomplishments and know that his family and friends will treasure the wonderful memories he made for them during his ninety-five years.
Memorial donations to the Lebanon Humane Society may be made through the funeral home.
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