Clifton Norman "Tip" Bishop, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Usaf

Obituary: Clifton Norman "Tip" Bishop, 87, retired Brig. General, US Air Force, of Huntersville passed away on Monday, January 30, 2017 at his home. He was born April 6, 1929 in Kannapolis, the son of the late Cleo Clifton Bishop and Johnsie Williford Bishop. He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Basinger Bishop in 1985. Tip was a graduate of JW Cannon High School in 1947 and a graduate of NC State College in 1951 with a civil engineering degree and AFROTC commission as 2nd Lieutenant. He did his post graduate work at Florida State Univ. in 1952 in meteorology sponsored by the USAF Institute of Technology. He attended the USAF Command and Staff College in 1976 and the Air War College in 1978. Tip was ordered to active Air Force duty during the Korean War stationed in Florida 1951-52 and Okinawa 1953-55. He then served in the USAF Reserve 1955-65then served in the NC Air National Guard 1965-1986 and retired in 1999 after 34 years of service as a Brigadier General, USAF. Tip had formerly worked as a construction engineer with DuPont Co., Parkersburg, WVa. From 1955-57, a Design Engineer with Freeman Engineering, High Point from 1957-58, Design and Construction Engineer with Cannon Mills Company, 1959-64, Assistant Chief Engineer 1965-78 and Chief Engineer from 1978-1986. He then worked as Engineer with Craftsman Fabrics, Concord 1987-99. Tip was a Professional Engineer registered in North Carolina from 1959-2004 and served on the NC Building Code Council from 1985-1997. A graveside service will be held at 12:30 PM Saturday, February 4, 2017 at Carolina Memorial Park with military honors by the US Air Force. The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM Prior at Whitley's Funeral Home in Kannapolis. Tip is survived by two sons, Steven Norman Bishop and wife, Vatee of Nederland, TX, and Keith Sterling Bishop and wife, Terri of Mooresville and three grandchildren, Britton Bishop Lucas and husband, Travis, Christopher Bishop and Grayson Bishop. Online condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com
Visitation: 11:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M. Saturday February 4, 2017 Whitley's Funeral Home

Service: Graveside Service 12:30 P.M. Saturday February 4, 2017 Carolina Memorial Park

Interment: Carolina Memorial Park Kannapolis, NC