Auburn – James W. Bishop, 79, of Otisfield, died Friday, Jan. 9, at the Hospice House in Auburn.

He was born in Ewen, Mich., on Dec. 20, 1929, to Thomas and Isabelle (Hatfield) Bishop.

He grew up in Flint, Mich., and graduated from Flint Central High School. He graduated from the University of Michigan with degrees in business administration and industrial management engineering.

He married Ellen Harman in Battle Creek, Mich., in June of 1953. Jim faithfully served his country in the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineering with the 94th Engineering Corps. in Hiyoshi, Japan.

As a corporate executive he was employed by General Electric, Singer Business Machines, GTE, and Digital Equipment where he spent five years as president and general manager of Digital’s operations in Puerto Rico.

Jim and Ellen acquired property on Thompson Lake in Otisfield in 1988, and became full-time residents of Otisfield in 1995. Since moving to Maine, Jim has been involved with the Casco Village Church in various activities including chairman of the board of Deacons.

In addition, he served as chairman of Otisfield’s Comprehensive Planning Committee and the Road Study Committee.

He was a member of the Otisfield board of appeals. Jim also served as a director on the board of the Thompson Lake Environmental Association, where he was active in the YCC and Milfoil boat inspection programs.

He is survived by his wife Ellen Harman Bishop; daughters Karen H. Bishop-McGowan of Durham, N.H., and Janet H. Bishop-VanMilligen of Santa Rosa, Calif.; and son Thomas H. Bishop of Blacksburg, Va.; six grandchildren, Leslie Ann McGowan, Emily and James VanMilligen, and Phillip, Grace, and Kate Bishop; and sister, Bonnie Stewart of Davison, Mich.