Kenneth 'Ken' Wilson Bish
July 13, 2020 at 9:54 p.m.
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He was born on Oct. 10, 1930, in Kittanning, Pa., to Dorothy Wimer Pacek and Ralph Wilson Bish. On Aug. 17, 1952, he was married to Virginia Lee Lewis Bish, who survives.
Ken was a 1948 graduate of Freeport High School in Freeport, Pa. He served in the U.S. Air Force in Okinawa, Japan, until his honorable discharge in 1952. In 1953, he moved to South Bend, where he was employed by Bendix Corporation. He worked as a supervisor until his retirement in 1986.
Ken and his wife Virginia purchased a motorhome and spent their retirement years traveling the 48 contiguous states, parts of Canada and Mexico. They settled in Branson, Mo., for 13 years prior to moving to Winona Lake in 2013. Ken was a loving husband, dad, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be dearly missed by his family and a lifetime of friends.
He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 67 years, Virginia Lee Bish, of Winona Lake; son, Tony (Catherine) Bish, of Rohnert, Calif.; and three daughters:?Diana (Gary) Grossnickle, of Winona Lake; Pam Salmon, of Houston, Texas; and Kim Hathaway, of Mishawaka. Also surviving are seven grandchildren:?Shawna, Adam, Justin, Jeremy, Nick, Kari and Erazmus; 10 great-grandchildren: Cathern, Bailey, Airel, Alec, Aidan, Caden, Owen, Rylen, Addison and Jack; and his brother, James (Diana) Leri, of Arizona. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15 at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw. Ken’s life will be celebrated with a service at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 16 at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, Warsaw, and officiated by Pastor Rod Valentine. Burial will follow, with a 1 p.m. graveside service at Highland Cemetery, South Bend, with military rites conducted by active members of the Air Force Honor Guard and the American Legion Post #284 of South Bend.
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Memorials to Grace Village Retirement Community, 337 Grace Village Drive, Winona Lake, IN 46590; or Christ’s Covenant Church, 2090 E. Pierceton Road, Winona Lake, IN 46590.
Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s website at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com.
He was born on Oct. 10, 1930, in Kittanning, Pa., to Dorothy Wimer Pacek and Ralph Wilson Bish. On Aug. 17, 1952, he was married to Virginia Lee Lewis Bish, who survives.
Ken was a 1948 graduate of Freeport High School in Freeport, Pa. He served in the U.S. Air Force in Okinawa, Japan, until his honorable discharge in 1952. In 1953, he moved to South Bend, where he was employed by Bendix Corporation. He worked as a supervisor until his retirement in 1986.
Ken and his wife Virginia purchased a motorhome and spent their retirement years traveling the 48 contiguous states, parts of Canada and Mexico. They settled in Branson, Mo., for 13 years prior to moving to Winona Lake in 2013. Ken was a loving husband, dad, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be dearly missed by his family and a lifetime of friends.
He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 67 years, Virginia Lee Bish, of Winona Lake; son, Tony (Catherine) Bish, of Rohnert, Calif.; and three daughters:?Diana (Gary) Grossnickle, of Winona Lake; Pam Salmon, of Houston, Texas; and Kim Hathaway, of Mishawaka. Also surviving are seven grandchildren:?Shawna, Adam, Justin, Jeremy, Nick, Kari and Erazmus; 10 great-grandchildren: Cathern, Bailey, Airel, Alec, Aidan, Caden, Owen, Rylen, Addison and Jack; and his brother, James (Diana) Leri, of Arizona. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15 at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw. Ken’s life will be celebrated with a service at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 16 at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, Warsaw, and officiated by Pastor Rod Valentine. Burial will follow, with a 1 p.m. graveside service at Highland Cemetery, South Bend, with military rites conducted by active members of the Air Force Honor Guard and the American Legion Post #284 of South Bend.
*****
Memorials to Grace Village Retirement Community, 337 Grace Village Drive, Winona Lake, IN 46590; or Christ’s Covenant Church, 2090 E. Pierceton Road, Winona Lake, IN 46590.
Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s website at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com.
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