Obituary of Marie Vivian Bishop

BISHOP, Marie V. "Dot" (89), passed away March 02, 2019 in Tucson, Arizona. Dot was the beloved Wife of Chuck Bishop (deceased), Mother of Mark, Lauren and Scott, Mother-in-Law of Sue, Tina and Ken, Grandmother of Steve, Terra, Vanessa, Jake and Jordan, Great Grandmother of Kenny and Ethan and the sister of Joan, Edward (deceased) and Howard (deceased). Dot was born in Buffalo, New York on December 28, 1929 to parents Marie and Edward Brown. She graduated from Lafayette High School in Buffalo. She spent time as a lab technician in the hematology unit at Children's Hospital in Buffalo and later worked as a lab technician for a renowned pediatrician in Buffalo. Dot met Chuck on a blind date and they soon fell in love. Chuck was training to be a Marine Corps Jet Fighter pilot. Dot remained in Buffalo while Chuck was in training, but their love remained strong and they were married on February 07, 1953 in Pensacola, Florida. They lived in North Carolina and Laguna Beach, California while Chuck was in the Marines. Dot and Chuck remained in Buffalo after his Honorable Discharge from the Marine Corps and raised their family in the Buffalo suburb of Elma, New York, until January 1970, when they relocated to northwest Tucson, near what is now Oro Valley, Arizona. Dot felt it was important to be at home while raising her children, so she didn't work outside the home, however, in the 1970's, she volunteered her time, first at Harelson Elementary mentoring students with reading and later at the Casas del los Ninos facility on First Avenue. She was an outstanding mother and role model for her kids. Once her children were on their own, Dot and Chuck moved into Oro Valley's Sun City Vistoso area. They got the travel bug and toured Europe, Hawaii, Japan, Hong Kong and Canada. They also made a two week visit in the Philippines, where their son Mark and his wife Sue were living for four years while Mark was a police officer in the Air Force. Some of their trips were made with Dot's cousin Helen and her husband Earl Weiler, who were also their close friends. For years, the foursome spent Saturday nights at the Cork and Cleaver Restaurant and enjoyed each other's company doing many different things. Chuck passed away in 1995. A few years later, Dot traveled to Ireland and England with friends and later became interested in finances and investments. She had always liked the looks of Jaguar cars, so she bought herself a teal Jaguar, which she loved to drive. The car fit her perfectly and her family and friends always felt they were made for each other. In 1998, Dot became a volunteer on the Oro Valley Police Department in the CVAP unit. During that time, she drove police cars on volunteer patrol, did fingerprinting, attended special functions such as the "National Night Out", "Dispose a Med" and other projects, and later worked in the substations doing various administrative functions. She was truly proud of serving her Oro Valley Community in that capacity and enjoyed being a part of the volunteer group. Dot was issued her 20 year pin and certificate while she was hospitalized, shortly before her death. Even though by that time she was sick and weak, receiving recognition for her 20+ years of service was one of the high points in her life. At the time of her death, Dot had been a 49 year resident of Oro Valley and the Oro Valley area.