William Bishop

William Edward Bishop, Jr., also known as “Ned” and “Pops”, age 87, died in Aurora, Colorado at the VA hospital on August 6, 2021.  The cause of death was a life well lived.

Born July 10, 1934, in La Junta, Colorado, he graduated high school from Arvada High School in 1952, married his high school sweetheart, Joan Foppe and then, promptly joined the United States Marine Corp.  After serving with the 3rd Marine Division, Marine Air Wing, he was honorably discharged. He took his young and growing family on an odyssey of small towns throughout the Southwest as he owned and managed radio stations, earning his business degree, from the University of Northern Colorado in the process.  In 1963 Ned won a coveted Peabody award for excellence in broadcasting.  Finally returning to the Denver Metro area, he became the Marketing director for KLZ-FM and was instrumental in helping to develop the Denver Music Concert scene.  Pops also created an International Joint Venture, marketing porcelain dinnerware across the United States.

As his children grew, he became a devoted fan and coach for his children’s sports endeavors.  He carried his love of sports and coaching into the future by creating a girls basketball organization, called, “The Force”.  The distinctive hot pink on black uniforms identified girls teams ranging in age from 10 years old to 19 years old.  These teams won innumerable tournaments, and national championships and over 200 of his players went on to play collegiate basketball.

Survivors include his two sons, Kip and Kim; and four daughters, Kitt, Kelley, Kammy and Kassidi, all of whom reside in the Denver Metro area.  Additionally, Pops was blessed with nine grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren and two more on the way.  He is also survived by his church family, the congregation of St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church and his spiritual guide and friend, Father George Shawareb.

Pops is preceded in death by his first wife Joan; sister Ann Bowser; his parents, Harriett Hockaday Bishop and William Edward (Bill) Bishop; and his granddaughter Cindy.

Pops wanted you all to know, that each of you was loved by him without exception or hesitation.  If you asked for his help he gave without measure and with everything he had.  He never turned away from a fight nor turned his back to his family or friends. The day he looked forward to in faith is now here. His fight is over, he kept the faith and he won.

Graveside services will be held at 2:30 pm, Friday, September 3, 2021, at Fort Logan National Cemetery, located at 3698 S. Sheridan Blvd., Denver, Colorado.  Friends and family are all welcome.  Please gather at staging area “B” at 2:15 pm.  We will be led to his final resting place, where he will be honored for his service and a life well lived.

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