Virginia Lee BishVirginia Lee Lewis Bish, of Grace Village Retirement Community in Winona Lake, passed away at 5:20 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, at Grace Village Health Care at the age of 89.
She was born on July 31, 1933, in Greensburg, Kan., to Lillian Mae Magnuson Lewis and Albert Lewis. Virginia grew up in Kansas and graduated from Castleton High School in Castleton, Kan. After high school, she married the love of her life, and was married on Aug. 17, 1952, to Kenneth “Ken” Wilson Bish. They were blessed with four children, became grandparents and great-grandparents multiple times during the 67 years of marriage they shared before Ken passed away on July 13, 2020.
In 1953, she moved to South Bend, where she raised her family. Virginia and Ken purchased a motorhome and spent their retirement years traveling the 48 continuous states, parts of Canada and Mexico. They settled in Branson, Mo., for 13 years prior to moving to Winona Lake in 2013.
Virginia loved the lord and attended Christ’s Covenant Church in Winona Lake. She had a beautiful voice and loved singing “hymns.” She was a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who will be loved and missed.
She will be lovingly remembered by her son, Tony (Catherine) Bish, Rohnert, Calif.; three daughters: Diana (Gary) Grossnickle, Winona Lake; Pam Salmon, Houston, Texas; Kim Hathaway, Mishawaka. Also surviving are seven grandchildren: Shawna, Adam, Justin, Jeremy, Nick, Kari and Erazmus; 10 great-grandchildren: Cathern, Bailey, Aeril, Alec, Aidan, Caden, Owen, Rylen, Addison and Jack. As well as her sister, Sonja (Jim) Hays, Hutchinson, Kan.; brother-in-law, James (Diana) Leri, Arizona; and two sisters-in-law, Gay Lewis, Pretty Prairie, Kan.; Anna Bish, Freeport, Pa. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.
Virginia’s life will be celebrated with a service at noon Monday, Dec. 12 at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home and officiated by Pastor Rod Valentine. Friends and family may visit prior to the service from 10 a.m. to noon. Burial will follow with a family graveside service at Highland Cemetery, South Bend.
Memorial donations may be directed to Grace Village Retirement Community, 337 Grace Village Drive, Winona Lake, IN 46590; or to Christ’s Covenant Church, 2090 E. Pierceton Road, Winona Lake, IN 46590 and would be appreciated by the family.
Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s website at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com.
