Nellie Jean Bishop, 89, a former resident of South Whitley, Ind., passed away at 9 a.m. Friday, May 17, 2013, at Timbercrest Senior Living Community, North Manchester, Ind., where she had been a resident since 2010.

She was born March 13, 1924, in Fort Wayne, Ind., a daughter of the late Ralph and Sylvia (Ditton) Cullers. She began her schooling in Fort Wayne and then the family moved to Columbia City where she completed her elementary school. She graduated from Columbia City High School in 1942. On Sept. 5, 1942, she was united in marriage to Robert D. Bishop. They made their first home in Decatur for about a year. They then moved to Columbia City where they lived for about 4 years before moving to South Whitley. Mr. Bishop preceded her in death.

During WWII, she was employed by General Electric, Fort Wayne. After raising their children, she worked in the Whitley County Assessor’s Office for about 15 years retiring in 1994. She was a member of Collamer Christian Church where she served as the treasurer for many years and Order of the Eastern Star.

She is survived by two daughters: Sharon (Robert) Myers, Fort Wayne; Joanna ‘Jodie’ (Terry) Knecht, North Manchester, Ind.; seven grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and a sister: Freda (Raymond) Ray, Johnstown, Colo.

She was preceded in death by a son, Robert Michael Bishop.

Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, at Smith & Sons Miller Chapel, South Whitley. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 22 at the funeral home with Pastor David Wagner of Collamer Christian Church officiating. Burial will be in the South Whitley Cemetery.

For those who wish, memorials may be made to Collamer Christian Church.