Robert Morley Bishop

Robert Morley Bishop, born October 24, 1933, in Toronto, passed away on Friday, February 6, in Burlington, Ontario. He is survived by his children: Lynda Sinclair of Huntsville, Ontario; Troy Bishop of Scarborough and his partner Karen Chaffey; Christopher Bishop of Don Mills and his partner Diane Ottwell; and Lisa Neubert of Brampton and her husband Michael Neubert. He will also be dearly missed by his grandchildren Miranda Thomas and her husband Seguin Sailors, Eli Thomas and Liam Sinclair, all of Huntsville, Ontario. Bob shared more than 40 years with his partner Elizabeth “Betty” Bray, who predeceased him on January 17, 2025. He is remembered as part of Betty’s extended family as well, including her children Sandra, Dan and Bob Bray; her daughter-in-law Candice Bray of Mount Brydges; and her granddaughter Meris Bray of Windsor. He also leaves behind Betty’s granddaughter Kyla Clark and great-grandson Kai Clark of Dundas, granddaughter Alanna and her husband Brett, and Betty’s nephew Larry Parker and his wife Sue. Robert—known to some simply as Bob, to others as “Bish” or “The Bish,” and most importantly as Dad and Grampa—was taken by ambulance to Joseph Brant Hospital during the day of the big blizzard after experiencing extreme fatigue. Doctors soon discovered he had developed pneumonia, which unfortunately delayed his planned chemotherapy treatments for leukemia. Even while in the emergency ward, Bob’s thoughtfulness and sense of humor remained. He managed to sign two birthday cards—one for Brett on the 16th and one for Kai on the 17th—signing them both in his familiar way: “THE BISH.” Bob had a strong work ethic and firmly believed that “If you are going to do a job, do it right.” As a highly skilled sheet metal fabricator, he worked with extraordinary precision—often measuring in thousandths of an inch. His craftsmanship contributed to the wrist and elbow components of the Canadarm. Earlier in his career, he was also involved in the metal fabrication of several satellites and the lunar landing gear for an Apollo mission. That landing gear still rests on the moon today, bearing the names of his four children inscribed in the metal, as well as satellites he helped create that continue to orbit the Earth. During the war years, when his father was sent overseas and his mother worked in a factory, Bob and his brother Bill were sent to live and work on a farm in Cannington, Ontario. He always felt privileged to have experienced farm life and spoke fondly of the lessons he learned there. Like most young boys, however, he occasionally found a bit of mischief. One such adventure involved rolling corn silk into a piece of newspaper with the intention of smoking it. When they tried to light it, the farmer burst through the door and promptly drenched them with a bucket of water—bringing their experiment to an abrupt end. Bob will be remembered for his sharp mind, strong work ethic, and quiet pride in the work he did and the family he loved. Whether known as Bob, Bish, The Bish, Dad or Grampa, he leaves behind a legacy of dedication, ingenuity and family stories that will continue to be shared for years to come. His memory will live on in those who knew him and in the remarkable work he helped create that still exists both on Earth—and beyond it.

Robert Morley Bishop

February 6, 2026