Richard Bishopp

Rich was born on February 26, 1947 in Temple, Texas. He grew up in different states; however, Washington became his home. Most of his adolescence he grew up in Colorado, but also lived two years in College Station, Texas, before moving to Lacey, WA in 1964.

He graduated from North Thurston High School in 1965, and soon afterwards joined the United States Marine Corps. He served from 1965-1969 during the height of the Vietnam War. While stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, South Carolina, Rich became an Air Traffic Controller

(MOS 6713 Air Traffic Control Radar), and primarily controlled squadrons of F-4 Phantoms. During his time of service, he was completely FAA certified, which made him an asset not only as a controller, but also as a trainer throughout the air wing.

In December 1965, while home on leave, Rich met his true love & soulmate, Nancy, on a blind date.

After a long-distance courtship, one year later, on December 22, 1966, Rich and Nancy were married at the Marine Corps Air Station Base Chapel in Beaufort, South Carolina.

After four years serving his country, in September 1969, Rich honorably separated from the Marine Corps. He then moved his family to Everett, WA where he began his career as a civilian air traffic controller with the Federal Aviation Administration at Paine Field in Everett, WA. Shortly after, he relocated to Brown Field, San Diego, California. Rich’s passion for his career working in air traffic control, eventually moved him to the San Francisco Bay area where he worked in the tower at

San Francisco International Airport.

In late 1974, Rich transferred to McChord Air Force Base, Lakewood, WA where he worked in Radar Approach Control (RAPCON) until the early 1980s. He loved every aspect of air traffic control, whether working in the tower or in the RAPCON. During his career as a controller, he formed some lifelong friendships that have endured all these years.

A few years later, Rich changed career paths. For 14 years, he worked as a Chemical Operator at Morton International Chemical Plant in Elma, WA. Rich switched career fields again in 2006, where he became a personal trainer. He loved this job, his employer, his clients, and the fact that he was able to help others improve their overall health through weight training. Retirement began in 2017, where he could spend more time with his wife, Nancy, to travel, garden, and enjoy family time.

Rich had many hobbies and interests: Aviation, Sports, Music, and Reading. His favorite sport was Basketball, but he enjoyed Football and Boxing too. He loved the Seattle Super Sonics, Seattle Seahawks, and the Washington State Cougars.

His love of music was unmatched and his taste was eclectic. He loved all genres; but had a special place in his heart for Reggae, Rock-n-Roll, Country, Jazz, and the Blues. If you were blessed to listen to one of his playlists/compilations, some musicians that were staples in his repertoire were Bob Marley, Elvis,

The Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Johnny Cash, Jesse Winchester, Alan Jackson, and Don Williams to name a few.

Other favorite pastimes, were watching movies; Westerns & the Classics topped his list. Reading was another passion for Rich. He read books on every topic known to the modern world. His favorite author was Elmore Leonard. He read many books about our Founding Fathers, Birth & Transformation of our Country, and anything regarding Spirituality and the Afterlife. He was a true believer in his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and would always welcome a conversation, if one was interested in engaging him on the subject.

Rich loved to travel, which started an interest in photography. He, along with Nancy, traveled many times throughout Europe and across the United States. He especially enjoyed Italy and Great Britain.

Rich’s love for his family & friends was always evident. He enjoyed spending time with his wife, two sons and their families. He adored his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a friend to all. He was someone to lean on in time of need, who would offer his advice, wisdom, and love in a way that always seemed to fit the specific situation.

Rich was an amazing man, with a heart of gold, great sense of humor, and a genuine love for life. He loved his wife, Nancy, like no other. That love spanned over five and a half decades. He loved his family, his country, and most importantly he loved God. While we miss him deeply, our love for him remains forever.

Rich is survived by his wife, Nancy; son, Todd (Kristen); son, Scott (Mickie); four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; his brother, Robert (Meg); sister, Evelyne (Delray); and brother, Michael (Karen). He was preceded in death by his father, Stephen D. Bishopp, and his mother, Jean M. Dalberg.

In lieu of sending flowers, please consider a Memorial contribution be made in honor of Richard to the following: American Heart Association at https://www.heart.org or the American Diabetes Association at https://www.diabetes.org/donate/donate-memorial.