Kenneth Eugene Bishop

Candler - Kenneth Eugene Bishop, 61, of 122 Pete Luther Road, Candler went home to be with the Lord Wednesday, July 9, 2003. Mr. Bishop was a native and life long resident of Buncombe County. He was a retired District Chief with the Asheville Fire Department; a member of the NC Firefighters Association; a member of Int. Assoc. of Firefighters Local 865 and a very active member of North Asheville Baptist Church. Mr. Bishop was a veteran, serving with the U.S. Navy from 1960 - 1964. He was the son of the late General Elliot Bishop and Velma Merlene Robinson Bishop. A son, Kenneth Daniel Bishop, also preceded him in death. Mr. Bishop is survived by his wife, Donna Jamison Bishop of the home, daughters, Deborah Bishop Mathis and husband Ricky of Waynesville, Kelly Bishop Smith of Waynesville, Heather Jones Taylor and husband, Dan of Alexander, and a son, Larry Marcus Jones and wife, Cindy of Candler; one sister, Janice Bishop Cooke of Asheville; one brother, Larry Wayne Bishop and wife Linda of Tallahassee, Fl.; five grandchildren; Eden Nicole Strother, Cassidy Leigh Rathburn, Daniel Wesley Smith, Gabriella Nicole Taylor, Matthew Aaron Taylor and 3 nieces and 3 nephews. The funeral service will be held at 12 Noon Saturday in the Chapel of Anders-Rice Funeral Home with the Rev. Jimmy Dykes and the Rev. John Honeycutt officiating. Burial will follow in Green Hills Cemetery with firefighters honors provided by the Buncombe County Firefighters Honorguard. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9:00 P.M. Friday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorials be made to: Mt. Area Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, N.C. 28813.