Plan the work, work the plan.
Paul Clenen Bishop said this over and over, as advice to himself and to others. Assembling train sets as a kid, as a high school student on a Liberty Ship, for more than 40 years in the United States Navy and as a Navy civilian, and as a small business owner working for the Navy, Paul would plan the work and work the plan.
His work was noticed, whether “inventing the Internet”, or keeping sailors and sea lanes safe, or helping with the Navy’s newest ship, or working with the Panama City Chamber of Commerce, and a wide range of other efforts. The Navy awarded him the Superior Civilian Service Award. He was a Senior Member of IEEE, and founding chair of its Marine Systems Coordinating Committee.
Away from work, though, he would sometimes go without a plan. One familiar treat was a good meal on the road. Often he would trust that treat to the waiter or waitress. And what would you like, sir? “Please bring me something good.” Uh…. Can you give me guidance? What do you like? “No, I trust you. Surprise me,” handing back the still-unopened menu. I don’t remember him ever being disappointed with what came.
Perhaps most, though, was his distinctive laugh. With family or at work, it would be crisp and vocal, full-bodied, head back, giant smile, sometimes also slapping his two hands against the chair arms. There was always some great satisfaction in whatever he was laughing at – not only was he entertained but also smarter. And you could see in his eyes that there was some question to follow – gentle or probing, personal or intellectual, but a moving on from “that was really good” to “what’s next? ”
“His Lord said, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of the Lord.”
For Kim, Brad, Bobbie, Nancy, and Tina.
Visitation 4-5pm, Memorial Service 5-6pm, Wilson Funeral Home, Wednesday. Funeral Friday, 8am, St John’s Catholic Church, Panama City, followed by burial at Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola.
Govt396.com 
For my father who taught me so many things. More words fail me right now.
-Kim
Paul was a good man and he always be remembered for his efforts to bring IEEE standards knowledge to US Navy as a founder of the IEEE P45.3 Working group and IEEE Power Engineering society MARSYS committee first chairman.
Yuri
From another colleague: “He was such a great fellow to work with and to be around. I learned a lot about IEEE committee work from him, indeed. I’ll miss Paul.”