Kenneth "Ken" Wilson Bish

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Kenneth “Ken” Wilson Bish of Grace Village Retirement Community in Winona Lake, Indiana passed away at 4:40 a.m. on Monday, July 13, 2020 at Grace Village Health Care at the age of 89.

He was born on October 10, 1930 in Kittanning, Pennsylvania to Dorothy (Wimer) Pacek and Ralph Wilson Bish.  On August 17, 1952 he was married to Virginia Lee (Lewis) Bish, who survives.

Ken was a 1948 graduate of Freeport High School in Freeport, Pennsylvania.  He served in the U.S. Air Force in Okinawa, Japan until his honorable discharge in 1952.  In 1953 he moved to South Bend, Indiana where he was employed by Bendix Corporation.  He worked as a supervisor until his retirement in 1986.  Ken and his wife Virginia purchased a motorhome and spent their retirement years traveling the 48 continuous states, parts of Canada and Mexico.  They settled in Branson, Missouri for 13 years prior to moving to Winona Lake, Indiana in 2013.  Ken was a loving husband, dad, grandfather, and great-grandfather...and will be dearly missed by his family and a lifetime of friends. 

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 67 years, Virginia Lee Bish (Winona Lake, Indiana); son:  Tony (Catherine) Bish (Rohnert, California); three daughters:  Diana (Gary) Grossnickle (Winona Lake, Indiana); Pam Salmon (Houston, Texas); and Kim Hathaway (Mishawaka, Indiana).  Also surviving are seven grandchildren:  Shawna, Adam, Justin, Jeremy, Nick, Kari and Erazmus; ten great-grandchildren:  Cathern, Bailey, Airel, Alec, Aidan, Caden, Owen, Rylen, Addison and Jack; and his brother:  James (Diana) Leri (Arizona).  He was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers.           

Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Indiana. 

Ken’s life will be celebrated with a service at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 16, 2020 at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home and officiated by Pastor Rod Valentine.  Burial will follow with a 1:00 p.m. graveside service at Highland Cemetery, South Bend, Indiana with military rites conducted by active members of the Air Force Honor Guard and the American Legion Post # 284 of South Bend. 

Memorial donations may be directed to Grace Village Retirement Community, 337 Grace Village Drive, Winona Lake, Indiana  46590; or to Christ’s Covenant Church, 2090 E. Pierceton Road, Winona Lake, Indiana  46590 and would be appreciated by the family.     

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