John Larry Bishop, born January 29, 1937, in Columbia, Mississippi, and raised in Oxford, passed away on Sunday, June 25 at age 80 following complications due to stroke, surrounded by family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mrs. Julie Deal Bishop (from Tuscaloosa, Alabama); his daughter, Dr. Catherine Lee Bishop Obrocea, son-in-law Dr. Mihail Obrocea, and grandchildren Analee Elena Obrocea and Nicholas Daniel Obrocea (all of Danville, California); many in-laws, nieces, nephews; and a multitude of lifelong friends. (Of special note are the friends who have been so loyal and caring in his final months and throughout his life: Van East, Jr., Bill Tucker, Bob Crow, Andy Griggs, and John Sanders. Each of them held a special place in his heart and gave him comfort and laughter, especially in this last year.)

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. Howard Mabrie Bishop and Mrs. Mattie Lee Moody Bishop, his brother, Mr. Howard Mabrie Bishop, Jr., and his nephew, Ted Larry Bishop, all of Oxford.

Larry was the quarterback of the University High School football team in Oxford and was voted Mr. University High School, homecoming king, and Most Handsome. He graduated from the University of Mississippi with a degree in Business and was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. He served in the Navy for four years, where he was stationed on an aircraft carrier off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia and completed flight training in Pensacola. He primarily worked in retail management for Sears and in community planning and development. Larry was an avid long-distance runner, a recreational pilot, a WWII and aviation buff, and also enjoyed fishing, camping, and spending time with loved ones.  He is best remembered for his wit, dry sense of humor, his love of animals, his strong work ethic, and his dedication to his family and friends.

Larry would have wanted to graciously thank Lakeside Hospice and Alacare of Pell City, as well as the group of angels who served as his caregivers (David Ricafrente, Darlene Leblanc, Vicky Wheldon, Shannon Wright, and others) for the comfort and care they provided to him in his final days. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to the University of Mississippi Foundation, the Fisher House Foundation for military families, the SPCA, or the cancer-related charity of your choice.

A memorial service will be held at Kilgroe Funeral Home in Pell City, Alabama, on Saturday, July 8 at 4 p.m.