Obituary of Gail Thomas Bishop

Gail Thomas Bishop, 82, beloved husband of Gerrie Bishop, passed away Saturday, January 23, 2016, at home, with his wife at his side after a long battle with cancer. Born in Stratford, CT, he was the eldest son of Thomas and Virginia Bishop. He served four years in the United States Navy during the Korean War. He was hired in 1954 as a mechanic’s helper in Machine Tool Maintenance at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. He was subsequently promoted to Asst. Foreman, Foreman, and finally to General Supervisor of a large group of highly skilled electronic technicians, mechanics, and various other maintenance personnel, retiring after thirty five years. He was then employed as General Manager of the former Systems Furniture Corporation and later retired from the former Cinemat Corporation, where he installed, serviced and maintained video tape machines in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York. He loved Glastonbury where he resided for the past 38 years. He was an active member of AARP Chapter 2010 and the Glastonbury Senior Center. He especially enjoyed time spent helping family and friends with many “projects,” such as wallpapering, painting, tiling, refinishing furniture, renovating, finishing basements, detailing cars and many carpentry projects. He was always available to take on a new task or to repair just about anything. He loved his home and enjoyed working in the yard and garden. A kind and loving man, he will be sadly missed, especially by his wife Gerrie. In addition to his wife, he leaves his loving family: a son Steven Bishop, two stepsons, David and Peter Knight, two stepdaughters, Catherine Ostermueller and her husband Gary, Jennifer Hintz and her husband Paul, five grandchildren, Dan and Jeff Ostermueller, Ben, Alaina, and Zachary Hintz, a cousin, Marjorie and her husband Edward Brighindi, and a niece, Donna Steben and her husband David. He is also survived by a brother Donald Bishop, a sister Esther Smith, two sons, Michael and Rick Bishop, a daughter, Diane Clark, seven additional grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and several additional nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a sister Louise Rankin. The family would like to thank Dr. Timothy Hong and his entire staff at the Helen and Harry Gray Center for their support and caring throughout the years of his illness. He loved all the nurses, especially his nurse, Donna Rioux. Calling hours will be held, Saturday, January 30, 2016, from 11a.m. to 1p.m. at Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury, CT. Burial at Green Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., Rocky Hill, CT, 06067 or the Glastonbury Senior Center, Welles St., Glastonbury, CT, 06033.