Billy Dean Bishop, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on June 11, 2025, at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. He was born on September 15, 1957, to Margaret Carolyn (Thompson) and Ernest Charles Bishop in Houston, Texas.
Bill was a fourth generation of the Thompson family to live in Katy, where he developed a passion for life and a love for family that would guide him throughout his years. He graduated from Katy High School in 1976 and continued his education at Sam Houston State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing with a minor in Economics in 1982. Bill played many sports while in high school and continued that passion at college, participating in intramural sports.
On January 21, 1984, Bill married the love of his life, Susan Joy Cranek, in El Campo, Texas. Their union was marked by a deep, abiding love that only grew stronger with time. Together, they created a home filled with laughter, warmth, and countless cherished memories. Bill was a proud father of his daughter, Kaylynn Binford (Blake) of League City, Texas, and his son, Ashton Bishop (Molly) of Muncie, Indiana, and the loving grandfather (PopPop) to Darcy and Winnie Bishop and Levi and Vivian Binford. Bill’s family was everything to him, and he cherished every moment spent with them.
Bill is survived by his devoted wife, Susan Bishop; daughter Kaylynn Binford, and husband, Blake Binford, and Levi and Vivian; son Ashton Bishop, and wife, Molly Bishop, and Darcy Dean and Windsor Jo. He is also survived by a sister, Kathy Hodges, and husband, Jim; sister-in-law, Sandra Cranek; brother-in-law, Jeff Cranek, and wife, Laura. Bill also leaves behind his dear nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who will miss his kind spirit, lighthearted humor, and his story telling. (Bill, land the plane.)
Bill was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather, Margaret and Robert Stager; father and stepmother, Ernest and Evelyn Bishop; and in-laws, Leon H. and Lorraine Cranek.
Funeral services will be held at Schmidt Funeral Home Grand Parkway Chapel on September 13, 2025, at 2:00 PM. Friends and family are invited to join in celebrating a life well-lived. Bill’s complete obituary can be found on Schmidt Funeral Home’s website.