Jefferson (Jc) Bishop

Jefferson Crawford “JC” Bishop, age 91, entered his Eternal Home on August 19, 2021. He was born on February 3, 1930, in Fox, Oklahoma, to Walter Perry and Viola Mae (Blair) Bishop.

He was the youngest of four children.  JC graduated Salutatorian from Healdton High School in 1948. He earned his Bachelor of

Science in Engineering Physics from the University of Oklahoma in 1954.  Upon his graduation from OU, he was employed by Sun Oil Company as a reservoir engineer.

Early in his career, he spent many days in the oil fields of Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana.

While living in Healdton, Oklahoma, he was introduced by a mutual friend to a beautiful young lady, Virginia Ann Kirkley. Virginia was a first grade teacher at Healdton Elementary School.

They married March 27, 1964. JC and Virginia had two children, Byron and Stephanie. Sun took them from Healdton to Tulsa to Edmond, Oklahoma, and finally Plano, Texas, where JC retired from Oryx Energy (formerly Sun) in 1988 after a 35 year career.

JC was always doing for others, a servant at heart. He was very generous with his time and resources. As a child of the Depression, he learned at an early age to make the most of what he had. His ability to fix almost anything was familiar to all who knew him. It was generally regarded among his family and friends that if he couldn’t fix it, then it couldn’t be fixed.

Wherever they lived, he and Virginia were always very involved in their church. Over the decades he served on numerous committees, volunteered with the youth group, served as co-director of their Sunday school class, set up audio/visual, did repairs, and offered himself whenever and wherever the need arose.

You could always find him in the stands cheering on his kids in all their sporting events, band concerts, piano recitals, scout meetings and countless other activities. Not to mention the countless hours of help with geometry, algebra and practically any other subject. While his children were students at the University of Oklahoma, you could find him in the backyard after the OU – Texas game; eagerly grilling hamburgers for what seemed to be half the membership of the OU Baptist Student Union who had descended on his and Virginia’s home. He loved spending time with his grandchildren; they were a highlight of his life and he was so proud of each of them. He and Virginia racked up a lot of frequent flier miles with trips to Minnesota and Michigan to visit them and then were very thankful when they moved to Oklahoma.

The freezer was always stocked with fudgesicles and oatmeal cookies were always on the counter when “the five,” as they were referred to, came to visit.

Upon Virginia’s diagnosis of dementia, JC loved and cared for his wife for many years until her needs were beyond the limits of what even he was able to give. After moving her to memory care, he continued to provide an amazing example of the covenant of marriage. He would visit her daily and when COVID hit, he moved in to be with her as an assisted living resident. We are very thankful to all the former and current staff at Arbor Hills Memory Care Center who have loved and cared for them both so well. We are also grateful for their many friends at Hunters Glen Baptist Church who have been a great support to them over the years and with whom they were able to share the many significant events in their lives.

JC is survived by his wife of 57 years, Virginia; his son Byron Bishop of McKinney; and his daughter Stephanie Berryhill and her husband Wayne of Norman, Oklahoma; grandchildren Ann Marie Hubbard and husband Jake; Colson Berryhill and wife Madeline; Grace Berryhill, Caleb Berryhill, and Jonathan Berryhill; and several nieces and nephews. JC is preceded in death by his parents; brother Walter “Buddy” Bishop; and sisters Margeurite Betz and Jean Garst.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held Wednesday, August 25, at 3:00 PM at Hunters Glen Baptist Church, 4001 Custer Road, Plano, Texas. Visitation will be at the church prior to the service at 2:00 PM. Burial will take place Thursday, August 26, at 11:00 AM at the Woodberry-Forest Cemetery in Madill, Oklahoma. A brief graveside service will be held, friends and family are welcome to attend. The service on Wednesday at the church will be broadcast live at: https://boxcast.tv/view/jc-bishop-service-hc858hgbtflzgigngtcy

Memorial contributions may be made to The Gideons International, https://www.sendtheword.org/Product/ProductDetail?prd_key=c4c5890c-2c94-425f-9e0a-6b5c1ce47da2&catTypeKey=38e90af0-d611-4e45-a0ed-cf6867875140 or The Alzheimer’s Association, https://alzfdn.org