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Roby J. Bishop

Roby J. Bishop

Roby J. Bishop passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sept. 25, 2017, at the age of 91, in Keller, Texas.

She was born November 12, 1925, in Fort Worth, Texas, to Jimmy and Berniece Chiles. She graduated from Abilene (Texas) High School in 1942 and shortly thereafter began her long career in banking at First National Bank of Abilene.

She met her future husband, Gordon Bishop, on a blind date. He was in the army, training at Camp Barkley, preparing to ship out to Europe with the 12th Armored Division. Once World War II ended he returned to Abilene with an engagement ring. They were married on Feb. 8, 946, and settled in Jamestown, N.Y., Gordon’s hometown.

Roby began working at Chautauqua National Bank (which became Marine Midland then HSBC, and is now Key Bank). She worked mainly in the trust department, eventually being promoted to trust officer.

She was active in many clubs and organizations, including the YWCA board, Business and Professional Women’s Organization and Allen Park Women’s Club. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church.

Roby loved music and the arts, especially going to concerts and the opera at Chautauqua in the summer. She had many friends and loved to entertain. She was never happier than when the house was filled with her daughter’s friends.

After retiring from the bank in 1987, she and Gordon became “winter Texans,” spending the winters in Harlingen in the Rio Grande Valley.

Gordon passed away in 1997, and she continued living in both states for a few years, but in 2002, she returned to her Texas roots full-time.

In true Roby fashion, she became active in the Harlingen community in the Concert Association, the HOST tutoring program and First Presbyterian Church of Harlingen. She loved driving out to South Padre Island with her friends to eat fresh shrimp.

In 2013, she moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area to be near her daughter.

Roby is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Kathi and Carl Walker; nephews: Jim, Ken and Steve Bishop; and many cousins.

Memorials the Chautauqua Foundation (chautauqua foundation.org)

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Jamestown.