Martha Elizabeth Callan Bishop, 87, passed away Sept.17, 2009, in Tigard, OR. Born in Colma, CA on Jan. 5, 1922 to Thomas and Bridgie Callan, Martha was spirited and open-hearted. A graduate of San Mateo Jr. College, her superior secretarial skills launched her into diverse positions with the Bank of Italy and the South San Francisco shipyards during WWII. Married on Nov. 14, 1944 to Wilbur Bishop of Tigard, they entered the newspaper publishing business and actively managed political campaigns in California and Oregon, starting with the election of her father to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. In 1957, they relocated from the Bay area to Tigard with their children. Martha was active in a wide variety of civic organizations. One proud accomplishment was bringing Music into the Park by encouraging the building of a permanent music venue in Tigard. She also did volunteer work in several areas of the world.
She is survived by her: seven children, JB, Betty Pardo, Helen Peoples, Tom, Don, Brent, and Brian; 18 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; sister, Helen Carey of Atherton; brother, Thomas Callan, Jr. of Hillsborough; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1990, her parents, sister, Mary McDonald, and brother, Michael Callan.
Martha was interred in her family plot at Holy Cross Cemetery following a Mass said by her cousin, Fr. Augustine Carter, at Holy Angels Church, in Colma on Friday, Sept. 25.
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