Jacob Bembry
editor@greenepublishing.com
Former Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) dispatcher Lee Bishop, 82, of Lee, died in a one-vehicle crash on Interstate 75 in Alachua County on Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 22. Willis Crowder, 78, of Greenville, was critically injured.
According to a FHP report, at approximately 4:34 p.m., Crowder was driving a 2001 Ford F-250 north on I-75. As he approached the 395 mile marker, he lost control of the truck and traveled onto the east shoulder. The truck collided with a tree and erupted in flames.
Crowder was able to escape from the truck, but Bishop could not and died at the scene.
Bishop is survived by his daughters: Happy Hughes, Rose Crowder, Iris Wynn and Cathy Winebrenner, who was reared by him; and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by Lavonne Bishop, his first wife, and by his second wife; Annelle Bishop.
Bishop always greeted friends with his warm sense of humor and a smile. He loved to sing, (and sing LOUD) with his rich, deep voice, and he had a special place in his heart for animals, especially dogs. In addition to his many years with FHP, where he retired in 1994, he was also a farmer. Among the animals he raised were goats, sheep and cattle.