Carole was born in Los Angeles to Beverley Caister and Marjorie (Fitch) Caister in 1933.
She first attended La Cañada Elementary, the only school in town at the time. She then attended John Marshall Intermediate and John Muir High School in Pasadena, and then went to Junior College.
She began attending USC in 1952, in her sophomore year. She had a partial scholarship and worked to pay her tuition. She became a member of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. She drove a Model A Ford Roadster. She graduated in 1955.
Carole married David Burleson Bishop in 1956. At that time, they lived in Pasadena and she taught school in Covina. The two had a son, Dale Brian Bishop, in 1958. He was their pride and joy. Carole was a loving mother. She taught Dale to read at age 3 1/2. Carole and David sold their Pasadena home in 1964 and moved to La Cañada, where Carole began substitute teaching. When Dale was in second grade, the family bought a house in South Pasadena.
Carole sang with a choral group at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, where she also played piano and wrote plays. She also continued teaching in La Cañada for 35 years. She loved educating children. She invented a fictitious town called “Bizzeria.” Kids used “Biz Bucks” to open businesses and sell goods and services to one another. The kids loved it, and affectionately called her “Ms. Biz.” Her teaching tool is still being used today.
In the 1990s Carole attended a counseling service school, The California Family Study Center. She completed hundreds of hours of counseling, took the state exam and became a family counselor. She also obtained a master’s degree at Azusa Pacific University. She practiced family counseling for a number of years.
She retired in 2000 at age 68. Retirement involved world cruises, and visiting her son and grandkids Jennifer, Amanda, and Daniel. Carole also enjoyed motorcycling on her Honda 200cc, and later on a larger 500cc. She often rode her cycle to school. She rode to many cities up and down the state. She also traveled the world over — to Great Britain, Ireland, France, Belgium, Germany, Denmark and Norway. In North America she saw the Hawaiian Islands, Alaska, Vancouver Island, Banff, Yellowstone, Zion, Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, the Redwoods, San Diego, and Ensenada.
She also visited Washington, D.C., New York City, Boston, Vermont, and Niagara Falls. She often went to Newport Beach and Balboa Island — she really loved the beach. In 2010, breast cancer caused her to have a mastectomy. In 2015, a lung condition forced an operation. In 2019 she fractured her back. Her mobility was in decline. First came a cane, then a walker, then a wheelchair. Towards the end, she had difficulty breathing. She was hospitalized, but chose home hospice care. She passed without pain on December 28, 2022.
Carole had a good life, and lots of fun. She is survived by her husband David Burleson Bishop; her son and daughter-in-law Dr. Dale Bishop and Dr. Valery Kidd Bishop; her brother and sister-in-law Douglas and Gretchen Caister; her granddaughter Jennifer Bishop; her granddaughter Amanda Bishop Serlin and her husband Zach; and her grandson Daniel Bishop and his wife Ann Marie.
Her body was cremated. We will have a celebration of life ceremony. The burial will be at sea.
