1-Column   2-Column

Dr. John Phillip Bishop

Dr. John Phillip Bishop, 79, former resident of Union County, passed away at his home in Penney Farms, Florida on March 8, 2023.   He will be remembered as a hard-working person dedicated to better the lives of people from Third World countries with his love of plants and food producing animals.  Empowering others and cultivating their talents was a passion.  Often times he would repeat the quote, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.  Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” He was loved and respected by his family and the communities he served.  He enjoyed spending time with his family and traveled distances to support his grandchildren’s extra-curricular activities.  He shared his passion for adventure with his children and grandchildren through reminiscing stories and leading them in extensive trips to Ecuador. His love of learning through reading and life experiences will be missed as he often would remark, “muy interesante!” John was born at Grady Hospital in Delaware to Robert John William and Marie Magdalene (Boerger) Bishop on June 28, 1943.  John married Kathryn Kay Parrott on June 21,1964.  They had two children, Mark Robert Bishop and Kendra Kay Bishop Hamby.  John had a strong Christian faith and was confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Chuckery and was a current member of Penney Farms Memorial Church. John grew up on the family dairy farm near Milford Center.   He was especially proud of showing his Holstein cow, Dinah, at the Ohio State Fair and winning Grand Champion with her.  He was a long-time 4-H and FFA member while winning showmanship in every animal category at the Union County Fair.  John was a member of the National FFA Band playing baritone horn.  His love of animals led him to pursue his education at the Ohio State University.  While at OSU he earned a B.S. in Animal Science, a M.S. in Reproductive Physiology/Animal Nutrition (in conjunction with Purdue University), and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1967.  He later earned a PhD in Tropical Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University. Upon graduation with his DVM, he accepted the Purdue University Fellows in Latin America, a program through the Ford Foundation to give young professionals international experience.  After intense language and cultural training, he and his wife, Kay, traveled to Bahia Blanca, Argentina, to work at the Universidad Nacional del Sur in the Animal Science laboratory.  While in Argentina, he helped train graduate students, as well as analyze the grazing diets of sheep in the Patagonia by performing esophageal fistulas on the sheep to collect samples.  After completing the two-year program, he accepted a fellowship through the Rockefeller Foundation and Texas A&M University to do research in Bogota, Colombia.  He developed a vaccine for a disease, similar to malaria, in cattle.  He then accepted a position through the University of Florida and the Ecuadorian government as the cattle expert of the country working for INIAP.  He and his family lived 10 years in Ecuador; seven of which were in the Amazonian jungle on a mission base.  He developed a model Lowland Tropics jungle homestead farm of 125 acres to model and teach indigenous people how to grow everything needed for living, including many foods, animals, and trees/bamboo for home-building without depleting the land.  Upon retirement from the University of Florida, he worked as Senior Livestock Officer for the Agency for International Development in Washington, D.C., under the Reagan administration.  John consulted in 22 countries all over the world but primarily in Latin America and Africa.  In his later years, he volunteered many years in Guatemala, training young agricultural students at Ak’Tenamit.  He was proudest of authoring bilingual editions for agricultural training manuals of sustainable farming systems in the Humid Lowland Tropics.  These books are the culmination of his decades of work in tropical agriculture, livestock production, and animal health. John is predeceased by his parents, Robert and Marie Bishop; and a sister, Ruth Bishop Neas.  He is survived by his wife, Kay; son Mark (Anamaria) Bishop of Jacksonville, Florida; daughter, Kendra (Stephen) Hamby of Ocala, Florida; grandchildren, Lauren Bishop, Alexandra Bishop, Joseph Bishop, Sofia Bishop, Mariah Hamby, Donovan Hamby, Nathan Hamby all of Florida; siblings, Miriam Bishop Staten, Beth (Marvin) Brown, Mary Salyers, Jeanne Thompson, and Gerald Bishop, all from Marysville; Barbara (Bob) Sellars of London; and numerous nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be held Saturday June 17, 2023 at 3 pm at the Claibourne Cemetery. Pastor Stephen Hamby will officiate. Memorial gifts can be made to Wycliffe Bible Translators P.O. Box 628200, Orlando, FL, 32862. Condolences and remembrances may be expressed at www.stofcheck-ballinger.com Directions to Claibourne Cemetery Florist Login Feel free to post a remembrance on this person's birthday, anniversary of passing, holidays, or whenever feels appropriate.

Please enter your password

Remembrances       to #1 from: skeeter tower Penney farms skeeter.tower@gmail.com Fri, Jun 30, 2023 at 9:48 PM I never knew john Bishop but have read what an amazing person he was.  I did salvage many of his bountiful plants from his yard with  family permission.  I was amazed at the variety and abundance of the plants and was able to transfer sedum and perennial peanut plants to a small area of the Penney Memorial Church yard.  I hope he would be pleased.We shared experiences in South America at different time and places. Adios, amigo.  Skeeter Tower View Older Condolences >> Condolences       to #1 from: Pat Parrott Eby Reno, Nevada Sat, Mar 11, 2023 at 12:12 PM Dear Kay and Family. SO sorry for your loss. My heart is with you. #2 from: David and Gwen Brooks Kailua- Kona Sat, Mar 11, 2023 at 1:11 PM Gwen and I met John and Kay very early in our marriage in Ecuador. I learned so much from John, not just about cattle and agriculture in general but how to interact cross culturally.  He would ask many questions, even if he knew the answer telling me if you ask enough often you will get at least one jewel. It helped shape my future ministry. John will be missed and our thoughts and prays are with his family. #3 from: Jaye Stover Burlington, Washington Sat, Mar 11, 2023 at 1:12 PM Always in my grateful heart...an amazing human who gifted humor and kind, intelligent presence to others. His support and friendship changed my life. Thank you, John. #4 from: Mark Bishop Ponte Vedra Beach Sat, Mar 11, 2023 at 2:37 PM It is with a heavy heart that I find myself having to say goodbye to you Dad.  It isn’t what I expected nor what I wanted, but yet we have parted for now.  The only solace I have is knowing without a doubt that we will be together once again in heaven. You instilled in me a strong reverence for God and a faith rooted in Luther's Small Catechism and confirmed in the Apostles Creed.  As a child I remember sitting on your lap if I was acting up during service or your glance to listen up and learn.  Thank you for sharing your faith with me and showing your faith through your life of service. One of my earliest memories is when you came home in Pichilingue, Ecuador with a llama in the back of your Chevy K-10  Blazer.  We drove that Blazer to work every day and you would drop me off with Don Alberto to work herding cows and riding Figurine, the horse you got me when I was just 4 years old.  Thank you for teaching me the importance of hard work and perseverance as you would often encourage me by saying, "If at First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again". Not only did you work hard, but you enjoyed life. You loved to get friends and family together and throw a party at our house. We had the largest collection of records that we listened and would dance into the night, frequently calling for "late lights" in Limoncocha to extend our time together.  You encouraged me to follow my passions, whether it was water sports with my first windsurfer or mechanics by restoring our Corvette together.  Thank you for showing me how to really enjoy life. You loved people and would make friends with anyone regardless of race, creed or color.  Given your status as "Doctor Bishop", you could have easily stood above others. Instead you would say, "Yo Soy Montubio" - a declaration that you were not a gringo, but an Ecuadorian.  Our friends became family as we shared life together growing up in Columbia and Ecuador.  Thank you for teaching me how to love others and sharing with me the love of Latin culture. I realize now that you gave me a mission to Live, Love and Serve.  You lived a life of service dedicated to helping others, not only throughout Latin America but also in Liberia and Haiti. It wasn't about handouts, but really about helping ourselves and applying what we learned. Through your deep knowledge and wisdom, you embodied the motto: "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."  Thank you for teaching me how to show true charity by serving others so they can help themselves. Thank you Dad for the 54 years we had together on this earth.  You shaped me and molded me into the man I am today.   I love you - your son, Mark. March 11, 2023 #5 from: Jim and Kathie Yost Kremmling, CO Sat, Mar 11, 2023 at 3:40 PM Always hard to say goodbye here on earth and be left without someone who helped form your life.  Your family meant so much to us in our Ecuador days and I will ever be grateful to the Lord for those memories.  May His peace embrace you as you thank Him for welcoming John home. #6 from: Kyle Nathan Richwood Sat, Mar 11, 2023 at 3:44 PM Sorry for your loss.  Prayers for your family #7 from: Rita Lou Rubeck Headington Parker �Richwood Sat, Mar 11, 2023 at 6:13 PM Kay we are so very sorry for your loss.  Never forget the wonderful times spent together.  Fred and Rita Rubeck Parker, RHS Class of 1962 #8 from: Sam J. Foos Marysville Sun, Mar 12, 2023 at 8:16 AM I am sorry for your loss but encourage you to take comfort that as a believer John has moved on to the next part of eternal life. #9 from: Albert & Carole Meehan Hampton, TN Sun, Mar 12, 2023 at 1:52 PM Dear Kay, Mark and Kendra Carole & I send our deepest condolences to your wonderful family.  What pleasant memories we have of our time with you in Limoncocha (except for our misbehaving dog!).  What a testimony and legacy of values, integrity, encouragement, faithfulness and honesty that John, you and your children and grandchildren have had and continue to have as you positively impact people's lives around the world.  It was a privilege to know we lived with and worked with such people in our brief time together on this planet.  May God comfort you and yours during the time of grieving John's passing. Love & prayers Al & Carole Meehan #10 from: Pat Krebehenne Richwood Sun, Mar 12, 2023 at 5:00 PM So sorry for your loss. He will be missed by many I am sure. What a wonderful impressive legacy he left. Your faith family and friends will get you through this difficult time. Love and prayers are with you. Pat Krebehenne and family #11 from: Shirley Prinkey Wulff East Liberty Ohio Sun, Mar 12, 2023 at 5:08 PM So sorry for your loss.  John was a fellow classmate and friend at Fairbanks High School and am not surprised at all his accomplishments throughout his life.  Blessings to his family.  Warren and Shirley Prinkey Wulff. #12 from: Johnny Regula Ostrander Sun, Mar 12, 2023 at 11:43 PM Kay, I'm so sorry to hear of John's passing. Prayers to you my friend. #13 from: Nikki and Bill Conklin Ostrander,Ohio Tue, Mar 14, 2023 at 7:10 AM So sorry to hear of John’s passing. Our prayers go out to all the family. #14 from: Tony & Kristi (Dotson) Woods Collinsville, OK Tue, Mar 14, 2023 at 4:16 PM Kay, Mark, Kendra, and family, We're so incredibly sorry to hear about John's passing. Please know our deepest sympathies and prayers are with you. May God comfort you as is only possible with hHim. Sending lots of love, Tony & Kristi #15 from: Judy Hall Baker Marysville Wed, Mar 29, 2023 at 4:52 PM So sorry for your loss, my thoughts and prayers are with you all. #16 from: Carole Greene clapsaddle Richwood Wed, Apr 5, 2023 at 2:15 PM Kay, I was sorry to hear of John's passing.  You are in my prayers.

View Index | Notify Me | Print Condolences