Found Deceased CA - Donald Byron Bishop, 94, went for walk, Lompoc, 15 Aug 2019

[JerseyGirl]

Donald Byron Bishop, 94, went for a walk about 1 p.m. Thursday and did not return home. The man typically walked around his house near Laurel Avenue as well as River Park at the eastern edge of the city and Beattie Park on the southeast side of Lompoc.

He has no known medical problems other than forgetfulness, Bishop has been known to fall while walking.

One searcher expressed frustration that she couldn’t do more and said she was emotional that Bishop had not been found as of Saturday afternoon — his wife’s birthday.

The missing man was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt, blue jeans, dark brown shoes, a white shirt and red suspenders.

Public Joins Lompoc Police in Searching for Missing At-Risk Elderly Man

 

[PommyMommy]

Update on at risk missing person
Press Release Date : 08/17/2019 6:38 PM
The LPD continued to search for Mr. Bishop.
Patrol officers received tips from citizens regarding possible sightings but they turned out to be a different person.
An LPD Detective used a Polaris off-road vehicle to search the riverbed, and also walked multiple trails.

Updates can be found here: Police | Lompoc, CA

 

[JerseyGirl]

UPDATE: Lompoc police investigate possible sightings of at-risk missing man

 

[GraceG]

This is so worrisome. My Dad lived in his home until he was 98. But I had a home health nurse there during all waking hours the last 3 years as he would wander off (mild dimentia - more forgetful than he didn't know where he lived). He went into assisted living when two of his friends did (he's actually really enjoying it) and I'm glad they keep an eye on him as I don't live nearby. Prayers that this gentleman is found safely.

 

[PommyMommy]

AUG 19, 2019
Family, friends canvassing Lompoc for missing 94-year-old man
[...]

Bishop's family says he is not your average 94-year-old.

"That's been his problem. You never could keep him down. Him and my mom are fiercely independent," said Brian Bishop, Don's son.

He says his father walks between three to five miles a day, sometimes even twice a day.

[...]

"I was really surprised because he's got the area memorized like the back of his hand and he's really got the microclimates of the trails memorized too," Bishop said.

[...]

Now many in the Lompoc community have joined in the search that's taken them through the riverbed and all the way to Highway 246.

"This morning I was up at the headlands of Beattie Park and I ran into four couples that described my dad to me. I said I was looking for a 94-year-old man and they already knew about it! Unbelievable," Bishop said.

[...]

Don's friends and family are hoping for a new lead as the Lompoc Police Department has used everything in their arsenal to search for Don so far.

[...]

 

[mlhenn]

Lompoc Police Department Captain Kevin Martin tells KSBY they have no direct information Don Bishop was ever in the riverbed but they still canvassed the riverbed twice using ATVs and even drones.

Family, friends canvassing Lompoc for missing 94-year-old man

 

[PommyMommy]

AUG 21, 2019
Missing Lompoc Man, 94, Found Dead in Santa Ynez Riverbed
Six days after 94-year-old Donald Byron Bishop of Lompoc went missing, his body was found Wednesday afternoon in the Santa Ynez Riverbed south of Highway 246, according to the Lompoc Police Department.

[...]

Rest in peace, Mr. Bishop.

 

[Luckyzmom]

Godspeed Mr Bishop. A Life well lived and this man is well loved ! Praying for him and for the family to find peace.

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

AUG 21, 2019
Missing Lompoc Man, 94, Found Dead in Santa Ynez Riverbed

From that article (just a nice article and seemed like a guy who deserved a little more here):

Donald Bishop was a World War II veteran who served in the Navy from 1942 to 1945, and later became a professional motorcycle racer for six years, his son added.


He also raced Bonneville cars, setting three land-speed records, his son said.


Bishop worked for Lockheed Corp. for 30 years as a fabricator until his retirement from Vandenberg Air Force Base in 1990.


But he remained active in his hobby of making and flying model airplanes, including fabricating each part.


“He makes every single part of these model airplanes, and they’re remote control and they’re antique,” Brian Bishop said. “He machines the entire engine, I mean everything — crank case, pistons, rods, head, the whole thing.


Donald Bishop traveled across the United States for competitions with his handcrafted model airplanes.


“That’s what’s kept him going these last 25 years,” Brian Bishop said, adding that his father stopped competing approximately two years ago. “He’s sharp that way, as far as being a machinist and sheet-metal fabricator.”

 

[PommyMommy]

From that article (just a nice article and seemed like a guy who deserved a little more here):

Donald Bishop was a World War II veteran who served in the Navy from 1942 to 1945, and later became a professional motorcycle racer for six years, his son added.

He also raced Bonneville cars, setting three land-speed records, his son said.

Bishop worked for Lockheed Corp. for 30 years as a fabricator until his retirement from Vandenberg Air Force Base in 1990.

But he remained active in his hobby of making and flying model airplanes, including fabricating each part.

“He makes every single part of these model airplanes, and they’re remote control and they’re antique,” Brian Bishop said. “He machines the entire engine, I mean everything — crank case, pistons, rods, head, the whole thing.

Donald Bishop traveled across the United States for competitions with his handcrafted model airplanes.

“That’s what’s kept him going these last 25 years,” Brian Bishop said, adding that his father stopped competing approximately two years ago. “He’s sharp that way, as far as being a machinist and sheet-metal fabricator.”

Thank you so much for posting this. Apparently, I didn't scroll far enough and completely missed it!

Thank you for your service, Mr. Bishop, Sir.

 

[LadyL]

RIP Mr. Bishop.