James Edgar Bishop's Obituary
James Edgar Bishop; born July 06, 1942 in Burbank, Ohio / passed April 10, 2019 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. He was 76 years old. James grew up on a small farm as the eldest of 5 children in the little town of Medina, Ohio. After graduating High School, he joined the Military and after 20 years retired as a Master Sargent in the U.S. Airforce. After the Airforce, he went on to work for Hughes Aircraft as an Electrical Engineer, working at Kennedy Space Center on several different projects, including the G.O.E.S. Satellites (Weather Satellites). During his time at Hughes he designed and built a device that would allow testing of all the wires through the Space Shuttle and the Satellites. It was later named after him, “The Bishop Box Test” and was used before any Space Shuttle launch. James also, while working for Hughes Aircraft, applied to be the Payload Specialist on the Space Shuttle Challenger that exploded in January 1986. This was one job his family was happy he didn’t get. After retiring from Hughes Aircraft, James moved to Niceville, Florida where he owned a local collectibles store and then later worked at Pawn Plus, selling instruments or giving bass guitar lessons. James was an avid guitar player (teaching himself how to play in his 30’s) and would encourage musicians to pursue their passion. If James wasn’t playing his guitar, you would find him either fishing or collecting coins. In 2015, James moved back to Medina, Ohio to spend time with his Mother before she passed in 2016. In 2017 he married Suzanne Cook and then in 2018 they moved to Tarpon Springs, Florida where they would spend time with his children, having dinners and playing cards. James is preceded in death by his parents, James and Evelyn Bishop; brother Doug Bishop and step-son Rick Hunter. He is survived by his wife Suzanne Cook-Bishop; siblings Donald (Charlotte) Bishop, Sherry Dollar, Judi Roach; sister in law Jan Bishop; children James (Nadene) Bishop, Jason (Jill) Bishop, Joey Bishop, Judith (Robert) Altman, Matty O’Brennan; step daughters Lori Hunter, Diana Schnuth, 18 Grandchildren and countless other family members and life-long friends whom he loved, and loved him.
Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, April 28th at 1 p.m.
Sun Valley Mobile Home Park in Tarpon Springs
39248 Us Highway 19 N, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
Celebration will be held in the Clubhouse (straight ahead on the left)
Please contact his daughter Judy Altman at [email protected] for details.
James's wishes were to be cremated; In lieu of flowers please donate to your favorite local charity.
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