Virginia (Drapal) Bishop was born August 7, 1937 on a farm outside of Cuba, Kansas to Peter and Helen (Havel) Drapal. She had one brother Lavern and sister Ilene.
She shared memories of her childhood, like facing off with a mean barnyard rooster which was soon made for Sunday dinner. She also encountered with their bull on one day that she was playing outside in her pretty ‘red’ dress and found being chased around the pasture by him, boy he could run! They worked hard on their farm from putting up hay to cleaning pens. Yet, there was always time for mischief like mudslinging, cow pie contests and seeing who could swing the highest in the tire swing hanging from the bit oak tree. All the kids loved riding down the stairs on the feather tic while hanging on for dear life. Also for in home entertainment was popping popcorn in the fireplace and playing ‘hide the thimble’. She loved and cherished those times.
Hard work and determination to do a good job aided her success in various jobs as babysitter, telephone operator, sales associates and department head. Her bosses always praised her and appreciated her hard work.
Virginia is survived by raising her three children with a firm hand. Brenda, Mona and Bruce were awesome but onery. Her ‘look’ and pointed fingers meant you were toast.
She met and married Ed Bishop at Miltonvale in 1965, enjoying 47 years of marriage. They lived in the Wichita and Valley Center area. Farm life was in their blood, they raised livestock, farmed and gardened. She had started babysitting in Wichita when at the Fireside Inn Trailer Park. She was pretty darn good at it, also teaching her girls how to care for small children which helped them to be great moms. Later they moved to the ‘Snackenberger’s Farm where she started her own business babysitting, child care and her egg business. You would find her many nights in the kitchen scrubbing the eggs for which she had a lot of customers. The smell of lilacs coming through her window while she was working is a treasured memory. She motivated her kids to work in her garden pulling weeds, planting and hoeing which were not their favorite thing to do. They helped with and learned ‘canning’ by picking and preparing food to keep stocked for the winter. She was very good at this, but one may worry that it sounded like the pressure would blow in the process, yet never did.
After moving down the road to the “30 acres” we continued to farm, bale hay and raise livestock. She hated chasing those cows. Once when she got kicked by a cow, she threw down her hat, went to sit down and have a beer (which she called her nerve medicine). She canned in her sparetime and cooked very delicious meals, both traits passed on to her children which helped in their marriages. Sewing was not her favorite thing, but she could hem pants with the best of them.
A few years later when she stopped babysitting and being a full time homemaker, she worked various jobs as a sales associate, department head, overnight stocker with Walmart where she retired from after many years. In retirement she loved to play bingo every Sunday at the 101 Club on W. 101st Street N. She even had her own nameplate and seat, which no one dared to sit in her spot. Boy! was she lucky, and she kept the stubs for all her winnings of the big spot. She even got one daughter into the bingo fever, but not both. She also enjoyed movie night at her house with her family and eating out up until covid hit. One of her favorites was Chinese food.
Our Mom was the greatest! She listened well, careful not to give too much advice. She enjoyed people and was always kind to those she met. Her winning smile was one of her most loveable features. She will be missed forever, may she rest in peace.
Virginia is survived by her children Bruce (Melissa) Carver of Wichita, Mona Whiteside of Newton and Brenda (Dennis) Chopp of Belleville; grandchildren Michelle (Grant) Stucky, Jennifer (Steve) Rubbottom, Ryan (Chelsea) Carver, Melissa (Jonathon) McCook, Karsyn Carver, Noah Whiteside, Gena Martin, Hannah Whiteside and Christina (Christopher) Engelhardt; great grandchildren Aspyn Stucky, Alleigh Stucky, Ben Carver, Blake Carver, Ryden Carver, Haddie Rubbottom, Maisie Rubbottom, Greyson McCook, Lachlan McCook, Anna Engelhardt, Willow Engelhardt and Perrin Engelhardt; many other family and friends. She was preceded by her parents, brother Lavern Drapal and sister Ilene Skipton.
Family services will be held at Highland Cemetery.
Baker Funeral Home Valley Center is in charge of the arrangements.
Condolences may be left for the family at www.bakerfhvc.com.