Ruben Burris Bishop

Ruben Burris Bishop, 76, Las Cruces, NM, departed from this life Jan. 1, 2003, in a San Antonio, TX, hospital. A memorial service was held in Las Cruces, NM.

Ruben was born Sept. 13, 1926 in El Dorado Springs, the eighth child of Marion Jackson and Ethel Harriet (Henderson) Bishop.
He was a graduate of El Dorado Springs High School. He worked for two brothers in the trucking business before he went to Kansas City where he was employed by Pratt and Whitney, who made engines for planes during WWII. Ruben had contacts with many truckers from coast to coast. He went back to El Dorado Springs to work in trucking. It was there that he met his wife, Frances S. Baker, of 55 years.

They lived in York, NE, where he attended York College. Their next move was to Lincoln, MO. From there they moved to McAllen, TX. He opened his office for a brokerage company and later they built a complex for Valley Brokerage, Inc., a western clothing store, Iron Skillet restaurant and Petro Service in Pharr, TX, naming it The Padera.

Ruben lived a faithful life having become a Christian by putting on Christ in baptism (Gal. 3:27) and was added to the church of Christ that Jesus died for (Acts 2:47.)

He was a generous person and always ready to help others. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was always ready to hear or tell a good laughable story.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Marion "Jack" and Ethel Bishop; four brothers - Alfred Jackson, Joseph Henderson, Paul Edgar and Ater August; one sister, Eleanor (Bishop) Vilhauer; and a nephew, Ronnie Paul Bishop.

Survivors include his wife, Frances S. Bishop; daughter, Robyn (Bishop) and husband, Michael Kinkade and their children, Jennifer Brooke and Heather - San Antonio, TX; son, Michael Bishop and his children, Tyler, Kyle and Scott - Oregon; daughter, Paula Burnett - California, and her daughter, Rachael Burnett - San Antonia, TX; two sisters, Sarah Jane Bishop - El Dorado Springs, and Ruth (Bishop) and her hus¬band, Raymond Rieder - Inde¬pendence; sister-in-law, Helen (Fortney) Bishop - El Dorado Springs; nephews - Gary Bishop - Nevada, Bill Bishop - El Dorado Springs, Gene Rieder - Independence, Gerald Rieder - Abilene, TX, Larry Rieder - Independence; nieces - Sue (Bishop) Thoreson - El Dorado Springs and JoAnn (Vilhauer) Burton - Fresno, CA; nine great-nephews; five great-great-nephews; nine great-nieces; three great-great-nieces; and many other relatives and friends.