James C. Bishop Sr.
James Corwith Bishop Sr. died on May 15 in Santa Clarita, California, at the age of 95.
Born in Southampton, on June 11, 1916, Mr. Bishop was raised on the family farm, Clearview Farm on Long Springs Road, now commonly known as North Main Street. He shared life on the farm with his three younger sisters Helen, Alma and Jane.
Mr. Bishop studied at Amherst College, but interrupted his education to run the farm when his father was in ill health. When his father recovered, he returned to Amherst, later transferred to Cornell University, and graduated in 1940 with a degree in agricultural science. With a degree in hand, he came back to Southampton to work the farm with his father, growing crops to support the war effort, and simultaneously fulfilled his military obligation with the New York State National Guard as a drill sergeant, achieving the rank of marksman. Working the farm taught him many useful skills and, being a natural mechanic, he honed those skills over his lifetime and was able to build and repair nearly anything.
Mr. Bishop met his first wife, Ena MacKillop, while at Cornell, and they soon moved their young family to California. He earned a master’s degree in agricultural science at UC Davis and, in 1948, they moved to Kern County where they raised their six children—Jim Jr., Bill, Serena, Hugh, John and Ray—until Ena’s death in 1970. After his children were grown, Mr. Bishop married his second wife, Martha, who preceded him in death early last year.
Mr. Bishop was a longtime researcher in vegetable crops—a prolific and practical contributor to the improvement of agriculture in the southern San Joaquin Valley. The majority of his 37-year career with the University of California was spent doing research at the USDA Research Station in Shafter, California; he authored or coauthored numerous scientific papers.
Beyond home and career, Mr. Bishop was an important part of the community. A frequent chaperone, advisor and mentor for the Boy Scouts and other youth organizations, he could always be counted on to do a yeoman’s job regardless of the activity. He had a strong Christian faith and lived it in his everyday life. He was engaged in every aspect of the churches he attended, from teaching Sunday school to serving on his local church councils to serving on the Episcopal lay readers’ council of the Diocese of San Joaquin.
Mr. Bishop’s life was always one of service, solid contribution and steadfast support of those who depended on him, survivors said. He was a loving and committed father and a person of integrity—calm, kind and considerate of others until his last breath.
He is survived by his three sisters, six children, 14 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be private. Donations in Mr. Bishop’s name made to American Alzheimer’s Foundation, www.alzfdn.org, or Assisted Home Hospice Foundation, www.assisted1.com/hospice_foundation.html, would be appreciated by the family.
on May 22, 2012