Eugene "Gene" Dale Bishop

Eugene Dale (Gene) Bishop, age 87, passed away on April 30, 2026 at Memorial Medical Center.

Born in Clyde, Ohio, July 17, 1938, Gene was the son of Alfred and Ethel Bishop and grew up in a lively family of three sisters and one brother. A lifelong lover of trains, his paper route afforded additions to his extensive model train collection housed on the top floor of the family home. His teen years added the love of fast cars, adding mechanic to his folder of interests and talents; he would always help you when your car was in need. He worked in the family grocery store, learning to be a butcher; as a youngster he would often volunteer to stay home and clean the house on weekends rather than go to the store and work.

He graduated from Troy High School, Ohio, in 1956 and moved to Las Cruces in 1961.

In 1965 a blind date led to a marriage beginning a companionship of 60 years enriched by the birth of a daughter and a son. In marriage he joined four brothers and sister-in-law as the 5th brother, he quickly bonded with his mother-in law who usually took his side in everything.

Gene was always active in his kid’s activities usually serving as president in the organizations; Mayfield Band Parents (where he drove a rental truck to San Diego full of band uniforms and instruments, a task he never volunteered for again!) and Onate Football Dads.

He was a charter member of Sertoma International in Las Cruces, serving a term as president and one as regional governor; he was on the board of Las Cruces Boys and Girls Club.

Gene started his insurance career with American National Life Insurance in 1965. Through his years in the insurance industry he won many awards, including the Million Dollar Round Table. He taught Life Underwriter Training Courses assisting those just starting in insurance. He was licensed in multiple states during his 31 year career making lifelong friends.

In 1997 he went to Florida for a short-term visit with family and ended up living there for 22 years. During these years he worked at his nephew’s engineering/manufacturing company in the production department retiring from there after 16 years.

On to new ventures, he started an internet company, manufacturing and selling marine pile drivers with another nephew, shipping pile drivers domestically and internationally, one going all the way to Quatar.

Year end holiday time would find friends waiting for his annual batch of peanut brittle, sometimes flavored with green or red chile. He loved baking, collecting clocks, collecting coins and decks of cards; he had a deck from all the current and past airlines. He loved country music, Chet Atkins and Charley Pride being at the top of his favorites.

Gene had love for adventure, motorcycle trips with friends, family vacations, fishing trips to Cree Lake and Alaska with his pals, his was a life full of making loving memories. His heart never left the beautiful Mesilla Valley and it was here he came to spend his final years.

His love for Rebecca was the compass of his life, guiding him to countless adventures shared with family and friends. In every shared moment, he wove together laughter, devotion, generosity and a spirit of togetherness that will be remembered always.

Gene is survived by his wife, Rebecca, daughter Wendy Sue Wheeler (Tadd), son Thane Bishop (Kim), grandson Jeremiah Wheeler, sisters Barbara Extejt and Rene Bishop and an extended family of nieces, nephews, in-laws and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents Alfred and Ethel Bishop, sister Karen Behunin, brother Denis Bishop.

The family extends much love and thanks to his special friend and caregiver Ashley Lovato Hinkleday.

Memorial services are planned at Getz Funeral Home Chapel, July 2, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. All are invited to gather at the family home afterwards. Family graveside services will be earlier at Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery.