Esther (Godshall) Bishop , 94, of Souderton PA; formerly of Andover, VT went home to be with the Lord on Friday, November 19th, 2021.

She was the loving wife of the late Earl Bishop for 64 years. Esther was born in Souderton, PA to the late Clayton Godshall and Edna (Mininger) Godshall.

She was a graduate of Eastern Mennonite High School, Harrisonburg, VA.

Esther and her late husband, Earl, went to Vermont in 1950 to start a church in Andover, Vermont which, over the years, grew into a close church family in the community. Esther supported her husband in the work of the church, teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She also played the organ entirely from sound, without reading music, on Sunday mornings. Esther was active in the Ladies Sewing Circle making quilts and bandages for those in need among various other projects. In later years, they returned full circle to the area of Pennsylvania where they both grew up, and spent their final years at the Souderton Mennonite Homes facility.

Esther was a devoted wife and mother. She had a ready laugh and filled her home with laughter and teasing. Having a large vegetable garden, she prepared and canned food for the family. She enjoyed many flowers such as peonies and rows of lupines in the garden. She baked every Saturday and made sure the cookie container was full for her husband and for her children when they came home from school for a snack. She read stories to her children at night before bed, prayed with them, and in their adult years always cared and lent an ear. Esther hosted many people who traveled to Vermont. She and her late husband were part of the Mennonite Your Way Association.

Esther is survived and will be greatly missed by her two sons, Duane Bishop and his wife Pat of Ottsville, PA and Gary L. Bishop and his wife Louise of Lakewood, CA, and also her daughter, Cheryl Fitzgerald and her husband Timothy of Boardman, OH; her four grandchildren, Jenny, Loren, Kendrick and Jared; her eight  great-grandchildren, Nadia, Luke , Hudson, Levi, Caroline, Toby, Torsten and Lydia; her brother, Ernest Godshall and his wife Martha of Newport, VA; her two sisters, Evelyn Nice and Elizabeth Landis both of Harrisonburg, VA.

In addition to her husband Earl, she was preceded in death by her brother, Edward Godshall.

A Memorial Service will be held on December 11, 2012 at 11:00AM at Souderton Mennonite Church, 105 West Chestnut Street, Souderton PA, 18964.  An additional Memorial will be held in the spring of 2022 at the Andover Community Church, Andover, VT. Burial will take place at Heald Cemetery, Andover, Vt.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in her memory to : Andover Community Church, 928  Weston-Andover Road, Andover, VT 05143.

Arrangements by: Anders-Detweiler Funeral Home & Crematory, 130 East Broad Street, Souderton, PA 18964. To send online condolences to the family, visit www.andersfh.com