Bruce Noland Bishop, 94, of Vicksburg, died Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012, at River Region Medical Center.

Mr. Bishop was born in Hazlehurst, one of eight children. He attended Hazlehurst High School and, despite being diagnosed with polio as a child, he went on to break the Mississippi record for the fastest mile run.

Mr. Bishop volunteered for the Marine Corps in 1941 and served in the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions. He fought eight major battles, including Guadalcanal, Saipan and Iwo Jima, throughout the entire duration of the war and was honored as Vicksburg’s oldest World War II veteran in the town’s 2001 Veterans Day Parade. Some of Mr. Bishop’s most eclectic memories occurred during his service, such as singing with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and raising a pet lion that was donated to the Honolulu Zoo.

He celebrated his retirement after 30 years from the Waterways Experiment Station-Army Corps of Engineers in 1980. His proudest accomplishment, however, was his loving family. He was a devoted husband to his wife of 66½ years; inspiring father to five children; and loving “Paw Paw” to three granddaughters and two great-grandsons.

Mr. Bishop loved spending time tending his garden, raising hunting beagles, playing harmonica, coaching little league baseball and telling stories. He “loved to watch things grow,” and his life reflected that wonderfully.

Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Singletary; daughters, Susan Walker (Robert) of Hattiesburg, Diane Bishop Bennett (Byron) of Frisco, Texas, and Linda Bishop (Daniel Smith) of Frisco; sons, Donald Bishop of Baileyton, Ala., and George Bishop of Vicksburg; sister, Joyce Ashley of Hazlehurst; brother, Albert Bishop III of Amite, La.; grandchildren, Angie Walker Kyle (Bill) of Madisonville, La., Audrey Dornbusch De la Cruz (Christian) of San Antonio, Texas, Skylar Bishop-Smith of Frisco; and great-grandsons, Hunter Kyle and Hayes Kyle.

He was preceded in death by his father, Albert G. Bishop; mother, Susan Noland; three sisters; two brothers; and a great-grandson, Joseph Kyle.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012, at Frank J. Fisher Funeral Home with the Revs. Dwight Sibley and Shannon Davis officiating. Burial will be at Greenlawn Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will begin at noon Saturday at Fisher Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Phillip Jones Jr., Charles Hintson, Cecil Dillon, Marvin Muirhead, Daniel Smith, Byron Bennett, Bob Walker, Bill Kyle and Christian De la Cruz.

Honorary pallbearer will be Phillip Jones Sr.

Memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church.