Darby Bishop

Darby Lee Bishop (Engwis-Bontrager) was crafty, compassionate, and energetic. She was always ready to help someone, going out of her way to make people happy. Both easy-going and hard working, Darby was certainly an exceptional woman.

Amidst the throes of World War II, at a time where women joined the work force and the basic standards of living were defined by rationing due to the war, Helen (Vinson) and Jack Engwis were a working couple. At the time, Helen was working as a bookkeeper and Jack was a taxi driver, with all of the hubbub going on at the time, they needed something to look forward to. So the two delighted in the change and joy that came on April 8, 1940 when they welcomed into their lives a baby girl.

When she was still young, her parents divorced and her mother was remarried to a man named Harold Bontrager. By that time, her mother had, had another daughter, Midge. Darby, and her little sister had to quickly get used to a whole new household with her mother’s new marriage. Not only was there a new man in the house, there were two boys to boot! Never having to deal with the craziness of young boys, Darby was suddenly thrown into the lives of not one, but two of them. She had to be energetic to keep up, and that energy grew with her, her entire life. Darby ended up the sister of three, Lee, Larry and Midge. She stepped up to the job wonderfully.

When Darby was in the first or second grade, they moved from Midland to Kalamazoo. Walking to and from school in rain, shine, sleet or snow, Darby trekked the long way every day. In school, Darby loved to practice her penmanship and became very accomplished at it. She also loved art, and perhaps it is here she developed her natural crafty tendencies.

When she got to high school, her academics had some competition, for school wasn’t the only thing that was interesting Darby anymore. Young love floating down the halls of Kalamazoo Central didn’t pass her by. She had a crush on an older boy named Jerry Bishop. He was two years ahead of her in school, but that didn’t stop him from liking her either. The two began dating in 1956. Three years later Darby graduated, and after six years of dating, they got married October 26, 1962, in Oakwood Methodist Church.

Starting off their newlywed bliss, the two soon had a son, named Bruce Lloyd Bishop. When Bruce was only a few months old there was a fire in their home. While it damaged the house it didn’t completely destroy it. However, Darby had second and third degree burns on her hands and legs and had to spend a couple months in the hospital. This caused her a couple months of being away from her family. They repaired and replaced what was lost in the home, and the house is still the Bishop’s today, but what a scare for the couple, so soon after their child was born!

Darby was a terrific mother; she stayed home and took care of her only child. Always offering her services and kindness, she often took care of her sister’s children as well as other member’s of her family- though; she was especially close with Midge’s children.

When she wasn’t concentrating on making dinner with her amazing cooking skills, or managing the household, cleaning and errand running, Darby could be found working some sort of mini-masterpiece. She loved to quilt and she made many blankets for Bruce as well as stuffed animals and pajamas. She also made Holly Hobby dolls! Her abilities were endless and later, she even belonged to the Log Cabin Quilter’s Club.

When the family wanted to get away from work and the house, they would pack up and head out for Peacock, Michigan, which is just ten miles north of Baldwin. Here they owned a cabin and often spent their time mushroom hunting, sometimes they traveled to Mesick too, to continue their search for the best mushrooms.

This was their time to relax, and they did. Darby had a good sense of direction, so she wasn’t worried about getting lost, and they prided themselves on knowing the best restaurants to go to up north. Their cabin was about family time, which is a perfect extension of Darby’s own values.

When Jerry became legally blind in the late 90’s, Darby was right by his side. She cared for him constantly and drove him wherever he needed to go. They would hit the town often, and because of Darby’s energy and spirit, they remained quite active. She wasn’t going to let something like that interfere with their lives. She kept Jerry going right along with her.

Darby, in her own time, enjoyed playing Bunko and collecting things such as Beanie Babies, and stamps, she also had a large collection of Hallmark ornaments. She loved spending time with her grandson, Kody and was anxiously expecting the birth of a second.

She didn’t like seeing doctors, so she plain didn’t for twenty years. However, in 2000 she began having multiple health problems, and on Friday, May 9, 2008, Darby died.

Darby was a woman who was great with her hands, and greater with her heart. She cared so much for others and always went out of her way to make sure everyone had what they needed. Darby was truly amazing.

Darby’s family includes, her husband Jerry; son, Bruce (Tracey) of Otsego; grandson, Kody; one sister, Midge (Ronald) Tabor, of Kalamazoo; two Brothers: Lee (Gisele) Bontrager, Kalamazoo and Larry (Marilyn) Bontrager, of Portage and 9 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father Jack, stepfather Harold and mother in Helen Bontrager 2005.

To learn more about Darby’s life, friends may visit with her family on Monday, May 12, from 4-7 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Portage Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 13, at the same location.

Please visit Darby’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a favorite memory or photo, sign her memory book online before coming to the funeral home or make a memorial donation to American Heart Association or American Diabetes.