William "Dean" Bishop

William “Dean” Bishop, 71, formerly of Triadelphia, WV, died on Wednesday, February 15 at Peterson
Rehabilitation Hospital, following a six-year battle with Stiff Person Syndrome. He was born in Wheeling,
WV July 4, 1951, the eldest son of the late Millard “Bud” and Lora Dean Bishop.
Following high school, Dean joined the United States Air Force and served our country for seven years.
After returning home he worked for Dean Trucking and then for the West Virginia Department of
Transportation, retiring in 2010. He was a Catholic by faith and a member of the VFW 4442, the
American Legion, and Elm Grove Eagles. He also participated in Relay for Life for many years. He spent
his retirement freely helping others. He enjoyed using his crockpot to make food for many gatherings
and was most famous for “Dean’s Mean Beans.”
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister Pam, his maternal grandparents
William R. Dean, for whom he was named, and Gertrude W. Dean, paternal grandparents Cecilia Bishop
Kemple and George Bishop and many aunts and uncles. He is survived by his remaining aunt Gertrude
“Pepper” Organ, and siblings Barbara Napple, Mark (Amy) Bishop both of Wheeling, Greg (Patti) Bishop,
Annapolis MD, Carol (Mark) Kindelberger, Triadelphia, and Amy C. Bishop, Pittsburgh, PA. Also left to
cherish his memory are his nephew and godson Mike Napple to whom he was a father figure, nephews
Brent, Shawn, and Jared Bishop and Devon LaRue, nieces Sara and Danielle Bishop, Richelle Blackburn,
Kristi and Kari Kindelberger, and Kalea LaRue as well as three great nephews, three great nieces and one
great – great niece.
He was thought of as the “fun” uncle, always taking time to talk to them at large family gatherings and
always had bowls of candy and ice cream sandwiches when they visited to watch cartoons. He especially
enjoyed taking them to the West Alexander Fair, having them counting down the days months in
advance.
At Dean’s request, there will be no visitation. Mass of Christian Burial with Fr. Jeesen Stephan presiding,
will be for family only, and will be followed by burial in Our Lady of Seven Dolors Cemetery. A
Celebration of Life will be held on his birthday, July 4, 2023, at Mark and Amy Bishop’s Camp on Big
Wheeling Creek for all family and friends. Schuetz Funeral Home is assisting the family.
For those who would like to contribute to Dean’s memory, please consider St. Vincent de Paul Catholic
Church, 2244 Marshall Avenue, Wheeling, WV 26003 , Amedisys Hospice, 300 Wharton Circle, Suite 260,
Triadelphia, WV 26059, or Elm Grove Eagle Riders, 2153 National Road, Wheeling, WV.