Reiko Goya Bishop

Reiko Goya Bishop; born January 19, 1941, in Osaka, Japan / passed November 13, 2025, in Pinellas Park, Florida. She was 84 years old. Reiko was the 3rd oldest of 9 children and grew up in Okinawa, Japan. She was Okinawan, but became a naturalized American Citizen in the early 1990s.

As a young woman, she worked on a U.S. Military base, where she met James Bishop from Ohio, married him, and moved to the United States, living in Louisiana, Washington State, California, and eventually settling in St. Petersburg, Florida. She belonged to several Japanese and Okinawan Social Clubs and often participated in festivals featuring traditional music and dancing, even performing at Morikami Japanese Gardens and Disney's Epcot. In her late 50s, she turned her focus to learning Okinawan Eisa Drumming / Dancing and performed many times with her group. She had a deep love for her Heritage and proudly passed that on to her children and grandchildren. When it came to traditional Japanese / Okinawan food, she was a master in the kitchen. Often, you'd find her singing Okinawan folk songs while happily preparing a meal. She also worked for several restaurants (mostly Japanese), as well as owned "Asuka Japanese Steak House" in the late 1980s.

Reiko is preceded in death by her Parents: Yukio and Yaeko Goya Brothers: Jinei and Mitsuo Goya Grandson: Benjamin Bishop. She is survived by her siblings: Fumiko, Takeo, Toshio, Tetsuo, Setsuko, and Kyoko Children: James (Nadene) Bishop, Jason (Jill) Bishop, Joey (Maria) Bishop, and Judith (Robert) Altman 9 Grandchildren and 2 Step-Grandchildren and countless other family members and life-long friends whom she loved, and loved her.

Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
Please contact Judy Altman at [email protected] for details.