Mary Angie (VanAtta) Bishop was born to Jesse Guy VanAtta and Emma (Rinehart) VanAtta on October 26, 1915 in Allen Township in Union County, Ohio. She was named after her two grandmothers, Mary Rinehart and Angeline VanAtta. She left her earthly home to be with her Lord and Savior on Easter Morning, April 5, 2015 at the Wesley Glen Retirement Community in Columbus, OH.
Mrs. Bishop began school in 1921, in Broadway, Ohio where she remained in school, until her family moved to a farm near Rosedale, Ohio when she was in the third grade. Her family moved to a farm near Woodstock, OH, during her Sophomore year of high school. She finished high school at Woodstock High School where she served as her Senior Class President. She continued her education at the Bliss Business College Secretarial Department, graduating in November 1935.
After graduation, she taught some night classes at Bliss College. Later she worked for lawyers at the Huntington National Bank in Columbus, Ohio, and then for Dr. E. J. Crane, Editor of Chemical Abstracts magazine, in the chemistry building on The Ohio State University campus. She also enrolled in the College of Education at The Ohio State University.
She was united in marriage to G. Rowland Bishop on October 10, 1937. They resided on his family farm in rural Milford Center, OH, where they farmed the land and raised livestock. To this union was born a daughter, Janet Mary (Bishop) Kiser and a son, George Wesley Bishop. In January 1959, the Bishops moved to an apartment in Columbus, Ohio. They bought a house in Columbus in August 1963. In 1995, Mrs. Bishop moved to the Wesley Glen Retirement community where she lived the remainder of her days.
Volunteering was a very important part of Mrs. Bishop's life. While in Milford Center, she was part of the Epworth League. She also served as a 4-H leader for the Milford Center 4-H Club and was president of the PTC. She served as the President of the Union County American Cancer Society. She also served as the President of the Home Demonstrational Society. Once joining the North Broadway United Methodist Women in Columbus, she served as Secretary, Vice-President and President. When Rowland became the Manager of The Ohio State Fair, she volunteered for the fair as well as being a part of the Ohio State Fair "My Fair Ladies" group. She was initiated into the CF Chapter of P.E.O. in 1968, which Rowland affectionately referred to as "Papa Eats Out". In this organization she served in almost every officer role, including being the President at two separate times for 2 year terms each. Once moving into Wesley Glen, she served on the executive Board as a member at large for 2 years, Secretary for 2 years, the representative of Dining services for 2 years, Vice President for 2 years and president for 2 years. She was also on the calling committee and historian. She began serving on the Philanthropy Committee in 2001. In 2004 and 2005, she served on the Wesley Glen Finance and Constitution Committee. She then became a Resident Trustee to the Wesley Glen Board of Trustees in 2005, where she served on various committees and in many leadership positions. Rowland and Mary enjoyed traveling together. When Rowland was named Assistant Director and Convention Manager of the National Conference of Social Welfare, they were able to travel to many metropolitan cities in the U.S. where he set up conventions and exhibits at the Annual Forum. Mrs. Bishop served as the Coordinator of Volunteers at these Forums. In 1970, they were able to travel to the Caribbean aboard the Queen Elizabeth II Ocean Liner for two weeks. In 1975 and 1976, they travelled to the Hawaiian Islands and Alaska. After retirement in 1979, they travelled to various places in Europe on two separate trips, and places in the United States they had not visited before. Rowland and Mary celebrated their 50th Golden Wedding Anniversary in October 1987 with a grand affair to which many friends and family members were in attendance. They were very devoted to their family and travelled often to see Janet and family in Virginia , and then later in Kansas, as well as to California to see George. They travelled to grandchildrens' graduations, and weddings with Mrs. Bishop even being able to attend one great-grandson's high school graduation and commissioning ceremony into the U.S. Air Force Academy. Mrs. Bishop was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Rowland, 2 brothers and 4 sisters. She is survived by her daughter Janet (Bishop) Kiser, and husband Harvey of Manhattan, KS, and her son Dr. George W. Bishop of Carmel, CA. She also has 4 grandchildren, David Kiser (Marcie) of Estes Park, Co.; Karen Kiser Remsing (Richard) of Holbrook, PA ; Annette Kiser Kennedy (Todd) of Phillipsburg, KS ; and Marliee Kiser Edwards (Michael) of Overland Park, KS ; 13 great-grandchildren: Maya and Raina Kiser ; Christopher, Jonathan, Timothy, Benjamin, Katheline, and Jessica Remsing; Ashlynn, Collette and Hannah Kennedy ; and Madison and Morgan Edwards. Also, many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Bishop lived a very long and fulfilling life taking much joy in helping others and the happenings of her family. She will be greatly missed, but her family is thrilled she can finally be reunited with her beloved Rowland after being separated for 25 years. Mrs. Bishop was a strong Christian woman and some of the last words she was able to speak was the complete Lord's Prayer on March 29, 2015. The family will receive friends on Thursday April 9, 2015 from 3-6 pm at RUTHERFORD-CORBIN FUNERAL HOME, 515 HIGH ST, WORTHINGTON, OHIO. Service will be held Friday April 10, 2015 at 10:00 am. with calling 1/2 hour prior to the service at North Broadway United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at Oakdale Cemetery, Marysville, Ohio. In Lieu of flowers, friends who wish may make a memorial contribution to the Bishop Family Scholarship Fund with the College of Agriculture, The Ohio State University Development Fund, North Broadway United Methodist Church or the American Cancer Society.
