Mr. Denis Michael Bishton's Obituary
Denis Michael Bishton was many things: a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a grandfather, an uncle, a sailor, a "Tin knocker", a neighbor, and a friend. He was also silly, talkative, proud, funny, generous, caring, a patriot, and in his own words an “RI: retired irritant” (although many hilarious responses came as people tried to remember what “RI” actually meant). Most of all Denis Bishton was loved.
Dad was a very special man who had this gift of drawing people out of their shell. He could have the grumpiest people, even strangers, telling him their life stories in a matter of minutes. Things people didn't want to talk about were told to my father, usually followed by a 30 minute conversation that one of his children had to cut short. We (his children) often became exasperated, and occasionally embarrassed, by this (usually because we were told “we were in a hurry and had to leave right” just before he started a conversation). Others, however, enjoyed and even looked forward to these conversations. He also had a knack of focusing in on a problem and finding a solution to it. Often it was as simple as talking through the issue, sometimes it involved some type of help, and occasionally it was to step in and take control of a situation, even if it was to take someone into his home. For these reasons, he had more children than just the seven that bear his name.
In case you did not know him as well as others, let me introduce you to an extraordinary man.
Denis Michael Bishton was born on April 29, 1940. He was the second child of William Winchell and Elizabeth Lucille Bishton. Although he was born in Chicago, Illinois, he grew up in Southern California and considered himself a "native". (In fact stories of Pasadena, Griffith Park, and San Juan Capistrano were some of the favorites that he shared). Following in the footsteps of his father and older brother, (with the help of a little ultimatum) Denis proudly served in the United States Navy, while giving his younger brother a good ribbing for only joining the Coast Guard (or the "Hooligan's Navy" as he liked to call it.) Always one to cause trouble, Denis had a somewhat bumpy career that often resulted in him getting promoted just to be demoted again and assigned his fair share of kitchen duty. (Those of you who know him have probably heard a few kitchen stories, such as the famous "1000 island dressing incident"). He served two years overseas and three years in the reserves.
After the Navy a new chapter in Denis's life started when he met the love of his life, Patricia Bellerose. They were married on June 13, 1964. Over the next 15 years, they had seven (yes, seven) children, three boys and then four girls (in that order). That many children meant Denis had to work hard. That did not mean he settled.
Dad had a saying, if you don't enjoy what you do (for a living) find something that you do enjoy. This was his philosophy in life. He had worked as a draftsman and didn't enjoy it, but he loved to work with his hands. That is how he eventually ended up working for the State of California, Patton State Hospital in the Sheet Metal Shop to be exact. If you asked one of us kids what he did for a living, we would call him a sheet metal worker or a sheet metal fabricator. If you asked him, he what would tell you that he was a "Tin knocker", a title he was very proud to have. He worked at Patton for as long as I could remember until he retired in 2001.
When you are the father of seven children (plus a few spares, as Dad would say) you end up with a few grandchildren, or in Denis's case 24 grandchildren (give or take). After he retired, Denis became a full time husband and grandfather. He was also the occasional chauffer, shopping companion, babysitter, amateur cook, and shoulder to cry on.
On May 25, 2014, Denis Michael Bishton passed away at the age of 74.
If you ask my children they would tell you different. They would say "Grandpa is now an angel in Heaven (in a Hawaiian shirt with a big gold ring on his head), who watches out over us and lives in our hearts". I think that is a very apt description. That is exactly where he is right now, watching over us as we sit here sad, missing him more every day. Soon much of this sadness will be gone and all the good memories will be easier to share. Dad wouldn't want us to mourn for too long. He would much rather we enjoy those we have around us rather then those we have lost.
So celebrate. Celebrate his life. Celebrate the fact that his love has reached so many people and that he has touched so many lives. Celebrate the fact that he has changed many lives for the better, just by being himself. Celebrate the fact that he loved one woman in his life and that he was married to her for (nearly) 50 years. Continue to tell stories about him. Continue to share the stories that he shared with us (no matter how "Tall" they may seem). This is the way we will keep him with us. This is how we continue the legacy of a man who made each of our lives better and who loved all of us no matter how flawed we are.
We love you, Dad, and we miss you. Thank you for being such a wonderful Husband, Father, Grandfather, and most of all Friend.
A Celebration of Denis' life will be held at Fiesta Hills Mobile Home Park on Friday June 13, 2014 at 3pm.
Burial will be private.
What’s your fondest memory of Denis?
What’s a lesson you learned from Denis?
Share a story where Denis' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Denis you’ll never forget.
How did Denis make you smile?
