Richard Hayes Bish

CHESTERTOWN, Md. - Richard Hayes Bish, of Chestertown, went to Heaven to be reunited with his beloved wife Sandy on Wednesday, August 18, 2010. He was 76. Richard H. Bish was born Jan. 14, 1934, in Tarentum, Pa., the son of the late Ralph Eugene Bish and Dorothy Wiemer Bish. Mr. Bish was a 1951 graduate of Harbrack High School in Pennsylvania. After high school, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard. After an honorable discharge he went on to attend Purdue, the University of Indiana and then took classes at Notre Dame while he worked as an engineer for the Bendix Corp. On Feb. 19, 1955, Mr. Bish married his late wife Sandra Lee Bish . At the age of 33, Mr. Bish was called into ministry. He graduated from Indiana Baptist College on June 1, 1971, with his degree in Pastoral Theology and in 1973 he also received a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Cum Laude and an Advanced Teacher Certificate. He moved back to Pennsylvania in 1975 where he Pastored at the Missionary Bible Baptist Church for 23 years. In 1989, Richard received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Indiana Baptist College. In 1998, he moved to Downingtown, Pa., and taught at North East Baptist School of Theology. In 2002 he moved to Chestertown. Dr. Bish was instrumental in starting four Christian Schools, taught at three different colleges, enjoyed hunting, and coaching boys and girls basketball. He was most passionate about being a fisher of men as well being a fisherman. Dr. Bish's passion for the ministry is evidenced by all of the lives that he has touched. He loved God and spent his time, money, and talents working for the Lord. Dr. Bish poured his life into the lives of others. His influence will last through the ages in the lives of those he touched. This old fisherman has finally laid down his rod in exchange for a crown of gold. He was the father of Curtis Hayes Bish, David Allan Bish, Jennifer Lee Snyder and Timothy Andrew Bish and Linda Gangemella. He was also like a father to Jeanette Bish, Christine Bish, Jimmy Snyder and Michael Gangemella. Dr. Bish was also had three grandchildren, Benjamin Joseph Bish, Kaylene Clark, Daniel Isaac Snyder; one great-grandchild, Tessa Morgan Myers; and three brothers, Kenneth Wilson Bish and wife Virginia of Branson, Mo., Ralph Eugene Bish and wife Anna of Freeport, Pa., and James Joseph Leri and wife Diane of Colorado. His family will miss the warmth of his smile and his contagious sense of humor. Every waitress in the U.S. is now safe from his jokes about whether or not he could pay with Hawaiian Money. He left his family a legacy of love, service to God, and the ability to laugh through all of life's trials. We look forward to joking around with him again in Heaven. We love you, Dad. A visitation will be held Sunday, Aug. 22, 2010, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home 130 Speer Rd. Chestertown, also from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday morning prior to the service. Services will be held Monday, August 23, 2010, at 11 a.m. at the Chestertown Baptist Church 401 Morgnec Rd. Chestertown. Interment will be held in Crumpton Cemetery in Crumpton, following the service. In lieu of flowers contributions can be sent to Atlantic Coast Baptist College, Laurel, Del., of Guiding Light Christian Academy, Sudlersville. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.fhnfuneralhome.com.