In September 2023 Bill called me to let me know he was selling his guns at a gun show later that week. I took the opportunity to visit him as I hadn’t seen him since 2017 when he quit shooting. He looked good at 98 getting around better than most a lot younger. We talked about shooting in particular and life in general. He loved the outdoors, hunting and trapshooting. He worked for AEP took care of the High Voltage towers, in the “woods” he said it was his dream job, in fact from his house he could see the last towers he installed. Starting ATA shooting in 1995, at the age of 70, he made up for lost time. Six years in a row he registered over 10,000 targets a year and the next seven years registering over 5,000 yearly. registering 100,000 combined targets in 2006, finally amassing 56,775 singles, 38,450 handicap and 35,825 doubles. I bought a couple of his guns, one was his bird hunting shotgun, a SKB Ithaca auto loader, he said “Bob, you don’t want that, the barrel is shot out!” I replied, “I don’t want it to shoot, I want it because it was yours”.
Below is his obituary.
Billie Bishop Obituary
Billie “Dadoo” Bishop, a Marine, husband, son, brother, grandfather and friend went to be with his heavenly father on April 17, 2024 at the age of 98, with his loving wife by his side.
Billie was born May 19, 1925, the son of the late William and Emma Cook Bishop. He was
preceded in death by eight siblings. Billie leaves behind his beloved wife of 77 years, Geneva Thomason Bishop, three daughters – Elisa (Steve) Dilly of Lexington Kentucky, Bettina (Keith) Scott of Ashland
Kentucky and Robin Bishop of Scott Depot West Virginia, four grandchildren – Erin (Jeff) Victor of Chattanooga Tennessee, Megan (the late Scott) Woods of Wurtland Kentucky, Michael (Jessica) Dilly and
Nathan (Cassie) Dilly all of Lexington Kentucky, nine great grandchildren Noah (11) and Adelyn (10) both of Chattanooga Tennessee, Couper (12) Whitley (9) and Owen (7) all of Wurtland Kentucky, Reese (4)
Jude (2) Hank (1) and one additional great grandchild that will be born in May, all of Lexington Kentucky.
Billie graduated from Princeton High School in 1943, enlisted in the Marines where he
served in WWII and was honorably discharged in December of 1945. He then married his beloved Geneva on April 6, 1947. Billie then enjoyed a long career with Appalachian Power Company where he worked until retiring at age 65.
Billie was an excellent marksman and enjoyed trap shooting competitively where he was especially proud
of winning the West Virginia state championship at the senior division. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time outdoors and with family and friends.