Paul
Paul Edward Bish
d. March 22, 2016
Paul Edward Bish, 83, passed away on March 22, 2016, at UNM Hospital, a consequence of an unexpected accident. His immediate family was able to be with him at his bedside. Paul was a native of Las Vegas, New Mexico, born to Leroy Earl and Minnie Leona Bish. He graduated from high school in Las Vegas, NM, and attended Highlands University. Subsequently entering the U.S. Air Force, he became an aircraft maintenance specialist, was stationed in Clovis, Roswell, and Albuquerque, served tours of duty during the Korean War and the Vietnam War (in Thailand), and retired after 24 years of his dedicated service. After a prior marriage and a life in the military, settling in Albuquerque, he met his wife of 34 years, Geneva, during mutual employment at JC Penny's - the beginning of a devoted, memorable life together. Paul leaves everyone who knew him with a unique, inexplicable, eternal inspiration - an intangible wonderment of his timeless willingness and ability to persevere through life, which presented him with a progression of obstacles and hardships, as he fulfilled a life like no other person we have ever known.
Paul was an active and gregarious man, a man of the mountains and outdoors. He treasured spending every Labor Day with family in Red River, fishing and playing in the snow with his daughter. He loved fishing the San Juan with Billy. Enjoying woodworking, yard work, and gardening, he was always working on something, remodeling his garage into a den and building cabinetry for his own home. Always social, he loved being around people, square dancing every Friday night, bowling every week with his spouse, and enjoying holidays with his extended family. He loved putting up Christmas lights, playing Santa, opening packages, and Margie's rolls. We remember his warm hugs and kisses, and snug embraces. He enjoyed road trips to Las Vegas, NV, with his sister in law Margaret for shows, slots, and cards. He cherished country music, Charlie Pride, Charlie Rich, and Carrie Underwood. He loved Sunday dinner at his sister Marie's, playing cards and canasta. Never turning down a treat, his sweet tooth treasured a Pay Day, cinnamon rolls, Twinkies, and Goo Goos. When it came to tasks and chores, he was strict, neat, tidy, and no nonsense. In the midst of this active and social life, after seven years of marriage with Geneva, Paul was felled by a debilitating stroke, consequently dealing him a loss of his speech, a paralyzed right arm, a weakened right leg, but leaving him with his sharp, caring, tenacious mind. With the selfless, tireless, unending devotion of Geneva, given to him on every remaining day of his life, he was able to endure months of rehab and achieve the functional capacity he displayed for the rest of his life. Showing his fierce determination and tenacious grit, Paul was able to live 27 more years, relatively active, always social, enjoying life, loving and laughing, bringing to all of us the warmth and friendliness of the human heart.
He was vibrant, jovial, and full of laughter. We will always ponder what words he could never say to his spouse, what special thoughts and ideas he could not convey to his daughter, what special books he could not read to his granddaughter, and what special words he could never speak to those he loved. We recall with amazement the 2 things he was able to muster: saying "Thank You" and singing "Happy Birthday to you!" We simply live in awe of his endurance and loving nature. He was tough, persistent, loving and sweet, always with a big smile and a twinkle in his eye. His steady persistence in action and purpose, his enduring persona of gregariousness, mirth, and tenacity, in spite of difficulty, showed his endearing qualities of goodness, inspiring us all. Paul was the personification of a Spirit of Goodness and Light, alive within a human being. His life was a gift for each of us to marvel.
He is survived by his wife, Geneva Bish, of Albuquerque; daughter Terry McCormick, her husband John, granddaughter Rachel McCormick, of Albuquerque; son Bill Zoucha, his wife Margie, of Albuquerque, granddaughters Whitney Zoucha, of Albuquerque, Nichole Valentine, of Ft. Worth; daughter Pam Jensen, husband Brian, grandsons Danny Barre, Kyle Jensen, and granddaughter Dana Faldmo, of Temecula; daughter Paula Holub, husband Bill, grandson Justin Holub, of Albuquerque; and numerous great grandchildren. Paul was preceded to rest by his brothers Leroy Bish, of Socorro; Donald Bish, of Roswell; his sisters Doris Weaver, of Connecticut; and Marie Willie, of Albuquerque.
Memorial Services will be held Monday, April 4, 2016, 2:00 p.m., at FRENCH - Wyoming. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The American Heart/American Stroke Association, in memory of Paul E. Bish, heart.org, 1-800-AHA-USA-1.
Paul was an active and gregarious man, a man of the mountains and outdoors. He treasured spending every Labor Day with family in Red River, fishing and playing in the snow with his daughter. He loved fishing the San Juan with Billy. Enjoying woodworking, yard work, and gardening, he was always working on something, remodeling his garage into a den and building cabinetry for his own home. Always social, he loved being around people, square dancing every Friday night, bowling every week with his spouse, and enjoying holidays with his extended family. He loved putting up Christmas lights, playing Santa, opening packages, and Margie's rolls. We remember his warm hugs and kisses, and snug embraces. He enjoyed road trips to Las Vegas, NV, with his sister in law Margaret for shows, slots, and cards. He cherished country music, Charlie Pride, Charlie Rich, and Carrie Underwood. He loved Sunday dinner at his sister Marie's, playing cards and canasta. Never turning down a treat, his sweet tooth treasured a Pay Day, cinnamon rolls, Twinkies, and Goo Goos. When it came to tasks and chores, he was strict, neat, tidy, and no nonsense. In the midst of this active and social life, after seven years of marriage with Geneva, Paul was felled by a debilitating stroke, consequently dealing him a loss of his speech, a paralyzed right arm, a weakened right leg, but leaving him with his sharp, caring, tenacious mind. With the selfless, tireless, unending devotion of Geneva, given to him on every remaining day of his life, he was able to endure months of rehab and achieve the functional capacity he displayed for the rest of his life. Showing his fierce determination and tenacious grit, Paul was able to live 27 more years, relatively active, always social, enjoying life, loving and laughing, bringing to all of us the warmth and friendliness of the human heart.
He was vibrant, jovial, and full of laughter. We will always ponder what words he could never say to his spouse, what special thoughts and ideas he could not convey to his daughter, what special books he could not read to his granddaughter, and what special words he could never speak to those he loved. We recall with amazement the 2 things he was able to muster: saying "Thank You" and singing "Happy Birthday to you!" We simply live in awe of his endurance and loving nature. He was tough, persistent, loving and sweet, always with a big smile and a twinkle in his eye. His steady persistence in action and purpose, his enduring persona of gregariousness, mirth, and tenacity, in spite of difficulty, showed his endearing qualities of goodness, inspiring us all. Paul was the personification of a Spirit of Goodness and Light, alive within a human being. His life was a gift for each of us to marvel.
He is survived by his wife, Geneva Bish, of Albuquerque; daughter Terry McCormick, her husband John, granddaughter Rachel McCormick, of Albuquerque; son Bill Zoucha, his wife Margie, of Albuquerque, granddaughters Whitney Zoucha, of Albuquerque, Nichole Valentine, of Ft. Worth; daughter Pam Jensen, husband Brian, grandsons Danny Barre, Kyle Jensen, and granddaughter Dana Faldmo, of Temecula; daughter Paula Holub, husband Bill, grandson Justin Holub, of Albuquerque; and numerous great grandchildren. Paul was preceded to rest by his brothers Leroy Bish, of Socorro; Donald Bish, of Roswell; his sisters Doris Weaver, of Connecticut; and Marie Willie, of Albuquerque.
Memorial Services will be held Monday, April 4, 2016, 2:00 p.m., at FRENCH - Wyoming. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The American Heart/American Stroke Association, in memory of Paul E. Bish, heart.org, 1-800-AHA-USA-1.
Service Details
Monday, April 4th, 2016, 2:00pm, FRENCH - Wyoming
To send flowers to the family in memory of Paul Edward Bish, please visit our flower store.