Blanche G. Bishop

Blanche G. Bishop, widow of Cliff D. Bishop, passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 3, 2018 at the age of 91.  A long time resident of Decatur, and later, Conyers, Georgia, Mrs. Bishop had moved to Sautee Nacochee, Georgia, and taken up residence with her daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Ronald J. Taylor, in the Skylake Community.

Mrs. Bishop is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Bishop Taylor (Ronald), son Hunter L. Bishop (Olivia), and predeceased by her son Scott D. Bishop and her brother, LTC Donald Goldstein.  She is survived by grandchildren Whitney B. Taylor; Mary Rachel Taylor Henderson (Bryan); Cliff D. Bishop (Jenny), Douglas Bishop, Brandon Bishop (Vicki), and Chandler Bishop, and great-great grandchildren Amelie and Felicity Bishop.    She is also survived by her sister, Frances DeHaven (Harold), of Hampton, Virginia, and sister-in-law, Mariann Goldstein of The Villages, Florida as well as many nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Bishop was born in New York City on September 23, 1927, to Max and Jenny Goldstein. Mr. Goldstein moved his business and family to Hampton, Virginia, in 1932, and Mrs. Bishop graduated at age 16 from Hampton High School.  Too young to attend a residential college, she went into the work force and during World War II worked for the WPA helping implement the Dewey Decimal System for the military records management project.  Upon the end of the war in 1945, Mrs. Bishop moved to Atlanta and met the love of her life, veteran Cliff Bishop.  They married in 1948 and set up housekeeping in Atlanta’s old Fourth Ward.  Mr. Bishop established Bishop’s Auto Service and Mrs. Bishop became the bookkeeper as well as raising their three children. 

Mrs. Bishop reentered the work force full time after her last child was in school and spent many years as an employee of Southern Bell, later Bell South and eventually AT&T.  She began work as an operator and through technical schooling and promotions, retired as a network design engineer after 30 years of service.  Following Mr. Bishop’s tragic death in an automobile accident in 1979, Mrs. Bishop worked a few more years, and then began a life of world travel and tournament bridge competition.  She and her beloved Lake Capri neighbor and traveling companion Melba Bessinger toured almost every country in Europe as well as Australia and New Zealand.  When home, Mrs. Bishop played regularly in various bridge clubs and competed in tournaments well into her 80’s.

Mrs. Bishop was a long time member of Chapel Woods Presbyterian Church while living in the Decatur area and a long time sister in Beta Sigma Phi International Women’s Organization. She always had many loving stories to tell about her sisters in Chapter Xi Alpha Omicron and the great fun they had together for so many years. 

A graveside service will be held in Resthaven Gardens of Memory, 2284 Candler Road in Decatur, Georgia 30032, (404-284-1162) at 1:00 p.m., Monday, October 8, 2018.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in memory of Blanche G. Bishop to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Barrett Funeral Home, Cleveland, Georgia, is in charge of arrangements.

A reception for family and friends will be held following the graveside service.  Location and Directions will be provided at graveside.  Please join us in celebrating Blanche’s life!