Hal Douglas Bishop, M.D., Age 86, Deceased

Hal Douglas Bishop, M.D., a well-respected military orthopedic surgeon, died on November 25, 2023, in Memphis, Tennessee, at age 86.

Bishop always knew he wanted to be a physician following in the footsteps of his grandfather.

After graduating from the University of Tennessee School of Medicine in 1961, he enlisted in the Navy early during the Vietnam conflict.

He completed his medical internship at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and served on the nuclear submarine USS Lafayette.

He was one of the first physicians to serve on a U.S. submarine.

Afterwards, he completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the U.S. Navy Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, and trained in pediatric orthopedics at Duke University.

He also served as a general orthopedic surgeon at the Navy hospital in Orlando, Florida.

After earning the rank of Commander during his 10 years of active service, Bishop resigned his commission and joined the medical staff at the Gulf Coast Community Hospital in Biloxi, Mississippi.

While at Gulf Coast, he served a term as Chief of Staff and established the first hospice program on the Gulf Coast.

In 1988, he joined Health First medical group in Memphis and practiced with the multi-specialty group until he retired at age 65.

Bishop was born in Jackson, Tennessee, to Roy Douglas Bishop and Clara Agnes Pitts in 1937. He grew up in Greenfield, Tennessee, and graduated from Chester County High School in Henderson, Tennessee.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in pre-med studies from the University of Tennessee at Martin.

Besides his love of science, he also studied philosophy and music. He practiced piano his whole life up until his illness prevented him from doing so.

Bishop was married to his high school sweetheart Camille McCall from 1958 until her death in 1981. They had three children together, Hal Douglas Bishop, Jr., Marva Grace Sain, and Kevin Bishop.

In 1983, he married Peggy Shea Patterson, the widow of Lt. Col. Mercer Howell Patterson. She has three children of her own: Teresa Ellen Patterson, Linda Ann Iannuzzi and Mercer Howell Patterson, Jr.

Bishop was predeceased by his father, mother and first wife. He leaves behind his wife, children, his brother Barry M. Bishop, an adopted sister, Elaine Rodgers, as well as four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.