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WENZE -- Bishop J. Wenze, 65, a resident of Moscow, PA, formerly of Albuquerque, NM, died late Thursday night in the Mercy Hospice inpatient unit Mercy Hospital, Scranton, PA. His wife and soulmate of over 30 years is the Former Dr. Gloria Tansits. He was born in Fitzgerald, GA on May 25, 1941, the son of the late Frank S. and Ethel Ponder Wenze. Bishop was a member of St. Eulalia Church, Elmhurst, a graduate of Monitor High School, Fitzgerald, GA, Class of 1959. Soon after graduation, Bishop joined the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, where he served aboard several ships including the aircraft carriers America and Kitty Hawk. His overseas duty included two tours in Viet Nam. He earned a Bachelors degree from the University of Nebraska, and became one of the Navy's first Physician's Assistants. He retired from the Navy as Master Chief Petty Officer (E9) in 1979 and continued his practice as a Physician's Assistant at Lovelace Medical Center, Albuquerque, NM, until he was forced into a second retirement by his illness. He then moved his family to Moscow, PA. were he has resided for the last seven years. He enjoyed his practice in medicine, and was very proud of his service in the US Navy! Bishop will be sorely missed by those most close to him. Also surviving two daughters, Nicole, Moscow, PA, Yvonne Bullard and her husband Russell, Albuquerque, NM; four sons, Sean, Moscow, PA, Jerry, California, Jeffrey and his wife Cherie, California, Steve and his wife Gwen, Albuquerque, NM; two sisters, Portia Wenze Dowdy and her husband Milton C., Fort Lauderdale, FL, Barbara Wenze, Tallahassee, FL; a brother, Clifford and his wife Helen, Fitzgerald, Georgia; fifteen Grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, several nieces & nephews, many close friends and neighbors from Pennsylvania and Albuquerque, NM. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Guy Frank Wenze, Dr. Ira Harmon Wenze and Don Valdez Wenze; two sisters, Cynthia Wenze and Elinor Wenze Duncan. The Funeral will be Monday at 10:15 a.m. from the Miller Bean Funeral Home, Inc., 436 Cedar Avenue, Scranton, PA with Mass 11:00 a.m. in the St. Eulalia Church, Blue Shutters Road, Elmhurst, PA. Interment, will be private, at the convenience of the family. Friends may call Sunday 4 to 7 p.m. In lieu of floral contributions memorial contributions can be made in his memory to the Mercy Hospice, 746 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503-1697. Go to www.millerbeanfh.com/ for additional Funeral information, directions, or to submit an online condolence card.
        Published on: Sun September 24, 2006