- Date Of Birth: July 10, 1934
- Date Of Death: August 6, 2021
- State: Colorado
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.
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.
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.
