Suzanne H. Bishop

Suzanne H. Bishop, aged 95, who suffered from congestive heart failure, quietly and peacefully stepped from this life into the arms of her Lord on July 16, 2016 at Greencroft Healthcare in Goshen, IN.  She passed two minutes after having her favorite Bible book, Philippians, read to her. The last chapter contains her favorite verse: “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” – Phil 4:19 and shortly thereafter ends with “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”

Suzanne was born on May 8, 1921 in Eureka, Illinois to Frank and Esther (Schertz) Harnish.  She married C. Franklin Bishop of Doylestown, PA on April 25, 1943 in Eureka.  They shared an abundant and devoted life together for 57 years. He died Oct. 29, 2000.

Suzanne is survived by four sons, David F. Bishop and his wife Sandra of Teaneck, NJ; John K. Bishop and his wife Jeanie of Kailua, HI; Lawrence A. Bishop and his wife Adrianna of Nashville, IN; and Bruce E. Bishop of Goshen, IN; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; three siblings, Robert (Ruth) Harnish, Marjorie (Wayne) Guth and Patricia (Maurice) Yordy, all of Eureka, IL.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and a brother, David.

Suzy graduated from Eureka High School in 1939 and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Art from Goshen College in 1985.  Suzy had a lifelong love of art and was a photographer from her youth, when she began collecting images with her mother’s box camera. Her father, Frank Harnish, was an early homesteader who received land from President Woodrow Wilson, and her mother Esther Schertz, daughter of David Schertz, of Eureka, IL was devoted to and faithfully prayed for all of her extended family. Suzy was particularly proud of her father’s Huguenot ancestors, the LeFever family, which can be traced back to France in 1510, during the time of Charlemagne.

After her first year at Goshen College, she moved with her newlywed husband Frank, to Morgantown, WV where she was a secretary to individuals at E. I. Dupont, who were, unbeknownst to her, part of the Manhattan project; and then to Arthurdale, WV – the first New Deal Homestead built during the Great Depression.   There, she raised her four sons, began a lifelong career as a potter, and served as secretary of the Arthurdale Eleanor Roosevelt Farm Women’s Club. One of her duties was to prepare annual reports on community activities for Mrs. Roosevelt, the town’s founder.  Suzy’s Arthurdale house, No. E15, to which Suzy donated original Arthurdale furniture, is now a part of the town’s museum and heritage society.

When her husband, Frank, became a professor at Goshen College in 1956, Suzy moved to East Goshen and then to South Goshen nearer the college two years later. In the late 1950’s and 60’s Suzy worked as office manager in Dr. Willard Krabill’s practice, receptionist and secretary in the Goshen College Relation’s office and later co-owned and operated Turkey Creek Pottery until her retirement.  Suzy was an active member and elder of East Goshen Mennonite Church. Most Sundays, she would be seen bringing in a chancel flower arrangement from her garden and was one of the last to leave after church. An avid photographer and potter, she was a founding member of both the Goshen Clay Artist Guild and the Goshen Photography Guild.  She served on the Foundation and Auxiliary Boards of the Oaklawn Psychiatric Center where she also volunteered and started the Gift Shop.  Suzy was active in the Goshen Questers, Goshen Women’s Club, Goshen Historical Society, the American Association of University Women and the Phalo Book Club, among others.  She was the 1998 Senior Queen of the Elkhart County 4-H Fair.

Suzy was generous with her time and energies, always involved in something, whether it was teaching pottery classes in Haiti when she accompanied her husband on Goshen College’s Summer Service Terms, sending cards and gifts to her grandchildren and great grandchildren, entertaining in her home, sharing her art in shows and exhibits, collecting seashells (now on exhibit in the Goshen College Science Building) in the Florida Keys during Frank’s work at Goshen College’s Marine Biology program, or going antiquing with friends.  Late in life, she fulfilled dreams to travel and visited centers of art, culture, and natural beauty in Italy, France, New Zealand, Australia, Newfoundland and Alaska.  The family is grateful for the loving care she received at Greencroft and by her many Goshen friends and now, for all who are now celebrating the remarkable life of this beloved wife and devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.  “Well-done, good and faithful servant.”

Relatives and friends may call Friday, July 22, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home.  A 10 a.m. funeral service will be held Saturday at East Goshen Mennonite Church.  Pastor Merle Hostetler will officiate. Burial will follow in Violett Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be given to the C. Franklin Bishop Scholarship Fund for Biology at Goshen College.