Wilbern Isaac “Bill” Bishop, 88, of Marianna died December 15th, 2022, at his residence. Bill was born in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, on July 20th, 1934.
He attended High School, Vanderbilt University in Nashville, and then entered the U.S. Air Force. He did numerous assignments, State Side and Overseas, and then retired to Marianna after 30 years of active duty. He was married to the late, Estella L. Bishop of Cypress, Florida, who was the daughter of J. H. and Lucille Mears of Cypress. He and Estella were married for 39 years and had no children together. He was active in the American Legion, serving as Historian then Commander of Post 100 in Marianna. He as well was active in the Disabled American Veterans, serving as Commander of Chapter 22 in Marianna, 2nd District Commander/Chief of Staff for the State of Florida. In the early June of 1990, the Air Force Secretary asked him to advise a Joint Services Commando Operation in Iraq. He accepted, and from July, 1990 through February 1991, he served in Operation Desert Storm. In 1995, he procured an Army Tank from Depot in Anniston, Alabama to erect a Veterans Memorial for those having served. Former 2nd District Congressman Pete Peterson dedicated the Memorial on Memorial Day of that year. Bill was an avid sportsman, and loved fishing in Merritt’s Mill Pond in Marianna, and Lake Seminole in Sneads. He was a published author, and loved writing poems, short stories, and novels.
Funeral service will be graveside 2 PM Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at Cypress Cemetery with Rev. Steven Conrad officiating James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel directing.
