With great sadness, I must share the news of the passing of our beloved David Ryan Bishop. He was my brother, son of Barbara and George Rabbit, father of Ryan Bishop, grandfather of Kade Bishop, sibling of Troy Bishop, Cynthia Wills, Allison Capps, Karen Rabbitt and Paula Rabbitt, nephew, uncle, cousin, and friend to many. It is hard to believe he is really gone. We learned just Monday evening, March 14th, that he was found deceased in his hotel room. The cause of his death is unknown, but police are doing an autopsy to rule out foul play. David had just moved to Titusville, Florida on February 21st. He was starting a new job the next day, and a brand new life. He had gotten a position as a Design Engineer for a company who builds aircraft. He was really excited about working there, and about living in sunny Florida. During his first week of his new employment, the flu was going around and people were going home sick. He also caught the flu, which caused him to be hotel bound for several days. But to the best of our knowledge he had recovered and returned to work. Some of his family members, including myself, had spoken to him the week before. Phone calls and text messages were unanswered over the weekend, but no one thought it was unusual. Clues from banking activity show that he could have died any time between late Friday night through Monday when he was found.
David was just 56 years old. Born in Takoma Park, Maryland on May 19, 1959, he grew up in Maryland, Florida, and West Virginia. He was a 1977 graduate of Duval High School, Lanham, Maryland, and also attended Woodrow Wilson High School, Beckley, West Virginia, in 1975. He attended Montgomery College, Takoma Park, Maryland, where he took Mechanical Drafting courses. He worked over the years at Rockwell, Litton, Sierra Nevada, Northrup Grumman, and Lockheed Martin as a very well respected Design Engineer, building aircraft, sometimes designing interior cabins for kings from other countries or other prominent people, and adding spy and surveillance equipment to military craft.
He brought great joy to so many people with his loving disposition, humor, and musical talent. He was a drummer in a number of bands such as Spectre, Triangle, and the Souled Out Band, in West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Florida, California (Hollywood), and even toured with one band to Greenland and Iceland. Most notoriously, he was the original drummer in the band now known as Shark Island, and played at various venues such as the Roxy and the Whiskey A Go Go. He wrote and/or co-wrote some of their songs. Two of their songs are featured in the movie Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure: "Father Time" and "Dangerous". Another song, "My City", is featured in the movie Point Break. He inspired family members and friends not only to pursue music, but to achieve excellence in whatever they do.
David loved his family and friends, and was always ready to lend a hand to anyone in need. He made people laugh where ever he went. Let me share a few personal examples. He still called me by the two childhood nicknames he gave me,"Mo" or "Malnu" (short for malnutrition), even as an adult, and made me laugh almost every time I visited him. Just a few weeks ago, he was trying to convince my oldest daughter, who prefers to eat vegan, that the tortilla in her sandwich wrap actually contained chicken feet, and that if she would hold it up to the light she would see hundreds of poor chickens crying out for help. I wish everyone could have experienced the humor that he possessed. It is one of the things I'll miss about him the most. Ever since we were kids, he defended me to the end, especially if I was ever in trouble or danger. He also made the best grilled cheese sandwiches ever. He was a great brother. I followed him around like a little puppy when I was a kid, because in my eyes, he was the best guy in the world.
He will be missed so fiercely. I can only hope that one day we will meet again. A memorial service is pending, but may be delayed due to other circumstances. I will post details as soon as I find out what they are. If you have any loving memories or humorous stories you would like to share about David (or any corrections to what I have written) please do so below.
Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted".
Psalm 147:3 "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
