Barbara Jean (Merritt) Bishop

Barbara Jean Bishop, age 67, passed away surrounded by her family on April 7, 2021.    Barbara was born in Mishawaka on January 3, 1954 to William and Lois (Lechlitner) Merritt and was a lifelong resident of Mishawaka. Barbara was a graduate of Mishawaka High School class of 1972.  On October 19, 1974, she married Allen K. Bishop at Milburn Boulevard Church of Christ in Mishawaka. After high school, she studied at the Atlantic Airlines school and became a travel agent. Later she traded in her career and became a devoted mother and homemaker.

Barbara is survived by her husband Allen and their three children: Jill C (Rob) Campbell, Rebecca A (David) Robertson and Jessica L (Jon) Heistan, as well as seven grandchildren: Dylan, Gabriella, Natalie, Lucas, Alyssa, Benjamin, and Tobias.  She is also survived by her mother Lois J Merritt, two sisters Karen Mason and Donna (Leo) Beam and many nieces and nephews. Barbara was preceded in death by her father William B Merritt.

Visitation will be held from 4-8 pm Monday, April 12, 2021 at Deer Run Church of Christ, 2730 S. Ironwood Drive, South Bend, Indiana 46614.  Pastor David Honeycutt will officiate the 1:00pm funeral service at Deer Run Church of Christ on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 and Barbara will be laid to rest in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens immediately following the service.  Cruz Family Funeral Home of Osceola has been entrusted with her care.

As a child, she belonged to Campfire Girls and later became a leader for her own daughters. She had a strong love for God and was an active member in Deer Run Church of Christ, where she served many years as a part of their accounting team each week. She was a long-time member of B.S.F. (Bible Study Fellowship) where she loved to study the Bible. She had various interests and hobbies and she baked the most amazing sugar cookies. Most known in the family for her amazing wit of words, she loved crossword puzzles, and word games alike. Word jumbles, Boggle and Scrabble, as well as Sudoku puzzles. Not many had the chance to say they won against her!  She loved card games like Pinochle and Euchre and could be found playing various solitaire games when at home. She loved to play “Nertz” with her mother, sisters and nieces most every Sunday. She also enjoyed playing the piano. She loved to watch both Mishawaka High School and Notre Dame football alike and would sing their corresponding fight songs aloud for every touchdown. She loved to shop, and she hunted for the best bargains and sales to shop ahead for each holiday and birthday. Her biggest passion was her grandchildren. They were the pure joy in her heart. She loved to watch them in their sports, their plays and concerts, and in their everyday lives. She truly enjoyed watching them grow and become each personality. She loved to share with them her love of God. Each Christmas and Easter, she shared the story of Christ and how he lived.

Proverbs 17:6 Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. Some of her other favorite scriptures were…. Proverbs 31:10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

In Barbara’s memory, memorial donations may be made to Deer Run Church of Christ. To leave a message of condolence for the Bishop family please visit www.CruzFamilyFH.com