Bishop, Thurman J.
Birth
Thurman was born in South Westerlo, NY on September 24, 1923, son of Thurman and Lucy (Pelton) Bishop.[1]
Marriage and Children
Junior married Peggy Ross and they had three sons--William, Ross, and Bruce Bishop.[1]
Occupation
In his early years, he and his brother, Dave Bishop, were operators of the Clearview Speedway in South Westerlo, NY. Junior was also a former employee of Clifford B. Hannay & Son, Inc. and from 1958 to 1970, he and his wife operated Peggy's Superette in Westerlo.[1]
Military Service
Mr. Bishop was in the U.S. Army and served in the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe.[1] Thurman served under General George S. Patton.[2]
Death
Junior passed away at his home in Westerlo on December 14, 2000, after a long illness.[1]
Other Media
Obituary
WESTERLO -- Thurman `Junior` Bishop, 77, of Westerlo, NY, passed away at his home on December 14, 2000, after a long illness. He was born in South Westerlo, NY on September 24, 1923, son of the late Thurman and Lucy (Pelton) Bishop. Junior was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army and he served in the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. In his early years, he and his brother, Dave Bishop, were operators of the Clearview Speedway in South Westerlo, NY. Being ever community minded, he was instrumental in starting the South Westerlo Little League, the Westerlo Rescue Squad, the Town Park in Westerlo, the Westerlo Town Library and was the Town of Westerlo's historian. He was also a former member of the Westerlo Vol. Fire Co. and was a past fire chief. He was honored by the Berne-Knox-Westerlo School by having the track and field complex named after him. Junior was also a former employee of Clifford B. Hannay & Son, Inc. and from 1958 to 1970, he and his wife operated Peggy's Superette in Westerlo. For many years he could also be found taking care of the flower bed on the corner of County Routes 143 and 401 in Westerlo. Surviving are his wife, Peggy (Ross) Bishop; three sons, William Bishop and his wife, Kathy of Westerlo, Ross Bishop and his wife, Lil Starna of Westerlo and Bruce Bishop and his fiance, Wendy Furman of Rensselaer; six grandchildren, Jesse Bishop, Michelle Franzenburg, Charity Petti, Wendy Bishop, Dylan Bishop and Tuesday Bishop; and two great-grandchildren, Heather and Morgan Franzenburg. He was predeceased by a son, Robert Bishop; a grandson, Terry Bishop; and a brother, Dave Bishop. Funeral service will be Sunday, 2 p.m. from the Cunningham Funeral Home, Greenville, NY. Friends may call at the funeral home on Saturday, 4 to 8 p.m. As to his wishes, cremation will be in the Albany Rural Cemetery. The family has requested, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Town of Westerlo Historical Society, the Westerlo Town Library, the Westerlo Vol. Fire Co. or to the Westerlo Rescue Squad.
Published in the Albany Times Union, Capital Region Section, Page B8, 15 Dec 2000 Issue.
Additional Media
Thurman gives a tour of the Westerlo graves of veterans to school children in 1991. See The Altamont Enterprise, Page 19, 22 May 1991 Issue.
Sources
