In a sparsely decorated apartment at Alpine Way Continuing Care Community home in Shelton, Marie Bishop offers her husband a sip of orange juice.
The 98-year-old woman holds the glass and straw steady as her husband Frank sucks the glass clean from his permanent position in a reclined bed, smacking his lips in jest as he finishes.
Frank whispers, “Thank you,” and the two quietly exchange a kiss.
Such is the day-to-day life of the longest-married couple in the state of Washington.
There are no secret recipes, no grand gestures and no miracles. In fact, the two are still living their life the same way they have lived it for the past 80 years — dedicated to each other.
“I don’t think it’s a secret at all,” Marie said simply. “We love each other and respect each other.”
On Feb. 14 — Valentine’s Day — the Worldwide Marriage Encounter officially certified the two the longest-married couple in the state at 79 years and 161 days.
They are also the second-longest-married couple in the United States.
“They’ve just been living their lives and being in love one day at a time,” said one of the couple’s five children, Brett. “But put enough of those days together and you get something monumental.”
Brett and his wife, Lisa, submitted the Bishop elders for the certification after they saw a news report about the longest married couple in the state.
“I remember looking at Brett and saying, ‘I bet your parents could beat that,’ ” Lisa recalled.
She researched Worldwide Marriage Encounter and submitted Frank and Marie’s information.
During the past week, Lisa was notified that the elder Bishops had, in fact, stolen the record. The organization sent a pastor to present them with a certificate on Sunday.
“They are immeasurably perfect,” Brett said of his parents. “They are a perfect living example of grace and style.”
From Humble Beginnings
Frank was born Nov. 13, 1914; Marie was born three years later, in April of 1917.
The two grew up across the street from one another, and both families’ children played together from the time they could walk.
Several years later, Frank’s family moved to England, but their parents kept in touch via snail mail.
However, in his early 20s, Frank decided to move to Seattle, where Marie’s family lived. On his 21st birthday, Frank knocked on Marie’s door and was welcomed with open arms by her family.
Frank and Marie quickly grew close, doing everything together.
“He was the first person I was ever really interested in,” Marie said.
They quickly fell in love; on July 24, 1936, they were married in a quiet wedding ceremony at their pastor’s home.
“I was really fortunate to find him,” Marie said. “He’s a wonderful fella.”
Brett said he thinks because the two went through so many trials together, such as World War II and the Great Depression, they were able to overcome anything.
“It was a mutual commitment based on shared values,” he said. “They were very practical.”
Shortly after they married, the couple moved to Yakima, where Frank’s work was not making very much money. They frequently were forced to choose what to spend their money on, giving up other aspects of their life.
“I remember one Sunday, we had to choose between buying a Sunday paper or going for a drive in the mountains,” Marie recalled. “I said that we should go for a drive, since we can read a paper any time, and Frank liked that.”
Marie recalled many drives into the mountains, where the two would hike or Frank would fish.
Their trips into the mountains eventually transitioned into larger trips, Brett recalled.
The family of seven spent plenty of time in places such as Brazil, Hawaii, Mexico and different countries around Europe.
“We just enjoyed seeing different places,” Marie said.
Moving to Shelton
In 1977, the couple moved to Shelton.
“Even though they spent most of their lives living in Seattle, this was really their home,” Brett said. “They really got into the community.”
Frank often donated time or funds to local charities, such as the Boy Scouts or emergency services.
He was also one of the longest-serving Lions Club members, Brett added, as a member for more than 60 years.
When he was in his 70s, Frank decided on a career change; he purchased a shellfish farm in Shelton, which is now known as Little Skookum Shellfish Growers.
Until last month, Frank and Marie continued to live in a house on the shellfish farm, but recently moved into Alpine Way.
But being together is enough for the happy couple.
“He’s always treated me like royalty,” Marie said. “He’s so thoughtful, always taking care of me.”
Brett, who now runs the business, recalls working at the farm on late nights, and glancing in his parents’ window to catch the two playing a game of cribbage or holding hands, as they still do today.
Brett, who has been married to Lisa for nearly 30 years, said his parents’ marriage is a role model he uses every day in his own life.
“It’s such a sweet, enduring love,” Brett said. “They’ve set a pretty high bar.”
