Thomas "Tom" R. Bishop

Tom Bishop, born July 31, 1930, grew up in an Irish/German Catholic Family on Nevada Street in East Toledo in Good Shephard Parish. The son of Carl and Marie (Kintz) Bishop. Brother of Paul (June) Bishop, Margaret (Baldwin) Gwyne, James (Lucille) Bishop, Elizabeth (Edward) Lagger. He attended Good Shepherd grade school and had a wonderful group of East side friends that remained close throughout their lives. They all married and some lived near one another in south Toledo. They continued their friendships through marriage, families and beyond. They got themselves into plenty of mischief as we all enjoyed hearing stories about how they would pack oranges in snow hide under the High-Level bridge and throw them at the Tarta busses as they crossed the bridge. You could never take the East side out of a true East-sider! Tom attended Central Catholic High School and graduated in 1948 with many old and new friends. While at Central he played basketball, ran track, cross country and played baseball. He was also in the high school choir and musicals. After high school he attended The University of Toledo and took a job at BR Bakers, a department store in Downtown Toledo, working in the men's department. It was there he met his new favorite Polish girlfriend: Beverly Romatowski (12/1/1934 - 1/12/2020) and the two started dating and dancing (Bev quickly taught him the polka!) Not long after, Tom joined the United States Air Force and was deployed to Germany during the Korean War. Once he returned Tom and Beverly were married on October 8, 1955 at Saint Joseph's Maumee. The two were married for 64 years and spent each day working together personally and professionally throughout their lives and enjoying each other's company - they were inseparable and are finally reunited once again! They settled in South Toledo in Saint Patrick of Heatherdowns Parish where he was a charter member and where, over the next 20 years, they grew their family: Bonnie, Kathy, Mary, Judy, John, Laurie and Beth. They always put their faith and family first. Tom worked hard to put 7 children through 12 years of Catholic schools. In his early years he also bartended at Parkcrest Banquet Hall on the weekends and cleaned the Maumee library at night to earn extra money. In 1955 he took a job at The Catholic Chronicle as the advertising manager and marketing director and worked for the newspaper until he retired in 1992 after almost 37 years. He received many accolades from the Catholic Major Markets Newspaper Association and spoke Nationally for the Catholic Press Association. He was also awarded the Catholic Big Brother of the year. After retirement from the Catholic Chronicle Newspaper he joined his son John as the Chief Operating Officer of JB Lawn and Landscape where he worked on marketing, bids, cutting lawns, planting flowers and plowing snow day and night- all with Beverly right by his side keeping him awake! Tom was always known to enjoy the company of friends and family, had a care-free attitude with a sense of humor, quick whit and a friendly smile. He helped start a Progressive Dinner Party group of the Belvedere drive neighborhood which continued for years. He loved hosting parties at home as well as attending events and celebrations. He was always willing to volunteer at his parish by being part of the lectors, ushers and parish council. At CCHS he was president of the Band Boosters Club and volunteered any chance he had in his communities. Tom enjoyed Notre Dame football games, great music, pontoon boat rides on the river, singing songs, writing limericks, telling jokes, family travels, back scratches, making his famous whiskey sours, holiday grasshoppers and was a master of the grill. He enjoyed spending time with grandchildren and loved to attend their activities. He loved to travel with family, especially the annual trips to St. Pete's Beach and to Frankenmuth, MI. He will always be remembered as an amazing Son, Brother, Husband, Uncle, Dad, Grandfather and Great-Grandfather and we will forever treasure the 96 years he had on this earth to always bless and teach others through his quiet faith-filled example of how to be appreciative and show love and kindness to all. God has gained an angel! Tom is survived by children and spouses: Bonnie (Mark) Walton, Katherine (Terry) Brassell, Mary (Richard) Lavoy, Judith (John) Pierce, John (Ann Buganski 4/17/67-2/7/2020) Bishop, Laurie (Tom) Welch, Beth (Nate) Stevens. 40 Grandchildren: Amy (Kevin) Tierney, Julie (Burton) Kozsey, Tom (Jenn) Walton, Katie, (Doug) Fox, Kristen (Dom) Shiple, Bridget (Todd) Odell, Meredith (Chris) Hughes, Gwen (Eric) Hagan, Marianna (Connor) McClure, Megan (John) Furfarro, Bob (Colleen), Michael (Bethany) Lavoy, James (Madelyn), Molly (Chase), Owen (Emily), Carl (Mckenzie), Sarah and Grace, Chad (Amanda) Pierce and Erin (Joel) Figmaka, Andrew (Julianna), Brett, Kevin, Brian and Lauren Bishop, Victoria, Thomas (Jackie), Paul, John, Matthew, Katherine, Nicholas, Andrew, Caroline and Alexandra Welch, Cyann, Trent, Ellie, Cole, Lincoln Stevens. 21 Great Grandchildren: Claire and Luke Tierney, Russell Walton, Nolan and Thomas Odell, Sebastian Hughes, Dean and Sam Lavoy, Charlie, Abby and Maddison Lavoy, Kinsey, and Zellie, Rhett and River Pierce, Thea, Wren and Nora Figmaka, Jack Bishop and Baby Girl Welch and Baby Boy McClure both on the way! We extend our deepest gratitude to our extra special caregivers who helped us care for Tom in his final 6 years: Sonya, Katie, Olivia, Kennedy, Margaret, Rayetta, Cecilia, Lindsay, Laura, Kathy and hospice of Northwest Ohio. Visitation will be held Thursday, July 30 at Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 South Reynolds Road from 2:00-8:00 p.m. with a prayer service beginning at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will take place on Friday, July 31: Tom's 96th birthday, at St. Patrick of Heatherdowns church at 10:00 a.m. visitation begins at church at 9:00 a.m. Interment at Resurrection Cemetery at 3:00 p.m. Tributes can be made in his honor to Central Catholic High School. Tom's favorite sayings: "Get your feet off the Davenport!", Tom's favorite song: "In heaven there Is no beer" and "The Notre Dame fight song" Tom's favorite poem: The Shortest poem: "Flees" Adam had um Farewell Limerick: May the road Rise to meet you With God and Beverly there to greet you Always a smile on your face We know you are in a better place We will miss your wisdom here on earth But your legend will live on with every birth Until we meet again May God hold you in the palm of His hand

Tributes

Thomas "Tom" R. Bishop

July 31, 1930 - July 21, 2026