HORNELL-Roberta S. Bishop, 95, of 7326 North Main St. Ext., passed away early Wednesday morning (Aug. 3, 2016) at Elderwood of Hornell.
Born in the town of Hornellsville on Nov. 18, 1920, she was the daughter of the late George B. and Cecil G. (Canfield) Goff. On Aug. 19, 1939 she was married in Olean to William J. Bishop, who predeceased her on Sept. 20, 1994, after 55 years of marriage. Besides her parents and husband, she was also predeceased by her two sisters and brothers-in-law, Delores and Dorance Neu and Esther and Harry Becker; also her three brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Jack and Esther Bishop, James and Jean Bishop and Thomas and Helen Bishop.
A lifelong resident of Hornell, Roberta graduated from Hornell High School, class of 1937, at the age of 16. Following high school, she was employed at Stern and Stern (Huget) Textiles in Hornell until the age of 21. Throughout the years she was employed at several different places including the Toy Department at the former Tuttle and Rockwell Store in Hornell during the Christmas season and for her long time friend, Marion Jamison, at a restaurant she owned in Arkport. Eventually Roberta became employed as a cashier and office clerk at Wegman’s in Hornell for 14 years before she retired.
She was a member of the former Westminister Presbyterian Church and later the United Presbyterian Church in Hornell for 75 years. She was a member of the Ethel Miller Guild of the church, the United Presbyterian Women’s Circle and was very active on various other committees. Roberta was also a member of the Hornell High School Alumni Association and was involved for many years in planning the annual reunion for the class of 1937. She enjoyed snowmobiling and motorcycle riding with her husband, Bill and also loved gardening, baking pies and cooking Sunday dinners for her family and on Thursday mornings she enjoyed spending time with her “coffee club” at McDonalds.
Her loving family includes her daughter, Barbara (Richard) Clancy; her two sons, George W. Bishop and Daniel (Mindy) Bishop all of Hornell; her four grandchildren, Bridgit (Christopher) Buono, Richard W. (Patricia) Clancy, James (Brenda) Clancy all of Hornell and William J. (Erin) Bishop of Tampa, Fla.; her five great-grandchildren, Shawn Buono, Patrick Clancy, Jaden Roberta Buono, Taylor Clancy and Carson Clancy all of Hornell; her special niece and her husband Marlene and Russell White of Harrisburg, Pa. and their children, Karen White, Thomas White, Laura (Larry) Heim and Donald (Jen) White, as well as their children; also several other nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and cousins.
A special thank you to her dear friend and caretaker, Kimberly O’Rourke, and several other special Elderwood and at home caretakers.
The Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc. in Hornell is honored to serve the family of Roberta S. Bishop.
Calling hours are 4-8 p.m. today (Friday) at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell. Friends are invited to meet her family at the Davidson Memorial Chapel of the United Presbyterian Church in Hornell, where a funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, with the Rev. Katherine Griffis officiating. Committal services and interment will follow at Rural Cemetery, Hornell.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in her memory to the Hornell High School Alumni Assoc., P.O. Box 135, Hornell, N.Y. 14843 (envelopes will be available at the funeral home) or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Online condolences or remembrances of Roberta are welcomed at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home.
