Virginia Lee Bish

Virginia Lee (Lewis) Bish of Grace Village Retirement Community in Winona Lake, Indiana passed away at 5:20 a.m. on Monday, December 5, 2022 at Grace Village Health Care at the age of 89.

She was born on July 31, 1933 in Greensburg, Kansas to Lillian Mae (Magnuson) Lewis and Albert Lewis.  Virginia grew up in Kansas and graduated from Castleton High School in Castleton, Kansas.  After high school she married the love of her life on August 17, 1952 to Kenneth “Ken” Wilson Bish.  They were blessed with four children, became grandparents and great grandparents multiple times during the 67 years of marriage they shared before Ken passed away on July 13, 2020. 

In 1953 she moved to South Bend, Indiana where she raised her family.  Virginia and Ken 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. 

Virginia loved the Lord and attended Christ’s Covenant Church in Winona Lake.  She had a beautiful voice and loved singing “hymns”.  She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who will be loved and missed. 

She will be lovingly remembered by her son, Tony (Catherine) Bish (Rohnert, California); three daughters, Diana (Gary) Grossnickle (Winona Lake, Indiana); Pam Salmon (Houston, Texas); Kim Hathaway (Mishawaka, Indiana).  Also surviving are seven grandchildren, Shawna, Adam, Justin, Jeremy, Nick, Kari and Erazmus; ten great-grandchildren:  Cathern, Bailey, Aeril, Alec, Aidan, Caden, Owen, Rylen, Addison and Jack.  As well as her sister, Sonja (Jim) Hays (Hutchinson, Kansas); brother-in-law, James (Diana) Leri (Arizona); and two sisters-in-law, Gay Lewis (Pretty Prairie, Kansas); Anna Bish (Freeport, Pennsylvania).  She was preceded in death by her parents, and husband. 

Virginia’s life will be celebrated with a service at 12:00 noon Monday, December 12, 2022 at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home and officiated by Pastor Rod Valentine.  Friends and family may visit prior to the service from 10:00 – 12:00 noon.  Burial will follow with a family graveside service at Highland Cemetery, South Bend, Indiana.

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.     

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Virginia Lee Bish, please visit our floral store.