James Alex Bishop, 75, of Louisville, KY, died Saturday, August 30, 2025 – after a short illness. He was born in Cincinnati, OH to the late Ernest and Barbara Bishop. Jim is survived by Joni, his wife of 48 years; a daughter Barbie (Ken) Pilla of Winston-Salem, NC; sons Joe (Alexa) Bishop of Cincinnati, OH; and Ben (Jayne) Bishop of Louisville KY; grandchildren Caroline, Bridget, Powell, and Beauden; brothers Bill (Linda) Bishop of Little Rock AR; and Dan (Joan) Bishop of Orlando FL; many nieces and nephews.

Jim was ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1978 after graduating from Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington, KY. He served churches in Kentucky and Virginia. Later, Jim pastored several United Methodist churches in Kentucky. He was also a social worker and worked for St. Elizabeth Hospital in Edgewood, KY.

Jim enjoyed traveling – whether it was beach trips, visiting family and friends, or the long excursions with Joni to New England, and to Scotland and London. He adored his grandchildren and enjoyed sharing his love of Halloween with them. He will be greatly missed for his quick wit, electrical and carpentry handyman skills, and his kindness and intention to love God and his neighbors.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at St. Andrew United Church of Christ on Sunday September 14, 2025, in Louisville, KY. Visitation will be from 2:30pm-4:30pm with the service at 5:00pm. In lieu of flowers – which he couldn’t appreciate anyway due to his allergies – donations can be made in his honor to the church.