Obituaries

December 30, 1919 to January 22, 2016

WINAMAC - Helen Ruth Bishop, 96, of Brownsburg, (formerly of Winamac, Bruce Lake and Logansport) passed away at 1:16 a.m., Friday, Jan. 22,  at IU Health West Hospital in Avon, IN.

Born in Kokomo, on Dec. 30, 1919, she was the daughter of Claude and Susannah M. Zehring Caster. She married Ralph W. Bishop on May 9, 1942 in Biloxi, Miss.

She is survived by children, Grover (Shirley) Bishop, Logansport; Becky (Robert) Duncan, Brownsburg; and Nancy Ebert, Austin, Texas; grandchildren: Jennifer (Michael) Albright; Anita (Wade) Ison; David Bishop; Christina Duncan; Mary (Andrew) Walters; Andrew Duncan; Amy (Scott) Temple; Michael (Amber) Ebert; and 18 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph, and a sister, Virginia (John) Staggs.

Mrs. Bishop graduated first from Greentown High School, then magna cum laude from Butler University in 1941, majoring in mathematics. Following World War II, her husband attended Ohio State University earning a Doctor of Optometry degree. The couple then moved to Winamac in 1949, where he established his optometry practice. They were active and involved members of the Winamac community until 1971, when they moved to Bruce Lake. She taught math for the Winamac Community Schools for several years, leaving her post with many students fondly in her memory. She was a die-hard Cubs fan, a Notre Dame fan, and an avid bird watcher during her years at Bruce Lake, and enjoyed needlework, gardening, Sudoku, and crossword puzzles. She remained an active member of the Winamac First Presbyterian Church, driving from Logansport for several years to attend Sunday morning services.

Visitation will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Winamac, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 28, with a Celebration of Life Service there at 1 p.m. Interment will follow at McKinley Memorial Gardens, Winamac.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the First Presbyterian Church of Winamac.

Helen’s family wishes to thank the many friends and caring individuals who made her life so complete.