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Charles Leo Bishop Jr.

Charles Leo Bishop Jr., 80, of Eureka Avenue, Wheeling, died August 18, 2019.

He was born November 10, 1938, the first son of the late Charles Anthony and Theresa Gillooly Bishop.

Surviving are three children, Jennifer Love, of Washington, D.C.; Charles Douglas Berger, of Australia, and his two sons, Tom and Leo; and Kathleen Gillooly Berger, of Akron, OH; a brother, Michael, of Renton, Washington; and a sister, Sue Beasi, of Boca Raton, Florida. He was preceded in death by one brother, William Francis Bishop.

Charlie was a member of St. Michael Parish in Wheeling. He graduated from St. Michael Grade School, Central Catholic High School, and Wheeling Jesuit University, in 1960. He taught high school English for 3 1/2 years in Wheeling and Maryland, then embarked on a writing career. He reported first for The Associated Press in West Virginia, then the Wheeling News-Register, where he was city editor. After that he founded his book business, The Bishop of Books, in Wheeling in 1976 and then in Steubenville, OH, with his partner, Roger Bertoia of Steubenville. In 1988, he sold it to his partner. For the past 40 years, he specialized in writing and lecturing on The Literature of Alcoholism, Recovery and Alcoholics Anonymous. He published 11 books on the history of alcoholism, AA recovery, as well as the “Sobriety & AA History Calendar” from 1990 to 2013.

He was on the Board of Directors of The Institute of for Research, Education & Training on Addiction, in Pittsburgh, Pa.

He loved his God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and his family and fellow man, especially alcoholics, drunk or sober. He loved the color yellow. He loved books; his favorite quotes being “First of all, we had to quit playing God!” from the A.A. book and “God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Whose Blood only shall I be saved” from the Bible (Galatians: 6:14).

Charlie asks for prayers for the forgiveness of his past sins and in gratitude and praise for a loving, merciful God.

Friends will be received from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. Thursday, at Altmeyer Funeral Home, Elm Grove Chapel, 154 Kruger Street, Wheeling. A rosary service will be held at 7:45 p.m., and an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting will be held 8:15 p.m.

Mass of Christian of Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, August 23, 2019, at St. Michael Catholic Church, Wheeling, with the Rev. Martin Smay as celebrant. Interment will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Wheeling.

Tax deduction donations in lieu of flowers are strongly suggested and should be sent to: Catholic Charities, 125 18th Street, Wheeling, WV 26003. No flowers please.

Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.altmeyerfuneralhomes.com.