Thomas Shimura

Thomas Shimura 1937- 2026 Thomas Shimura was born in Yakima, Washington in 1937 and died in Moses Lake, Washington in March, 2026 at the age of 89. His parents were Kunigi “Jack” Shimura and Chiyoko Shimura. He met his wife Yoriko “Dora” Minegishi in Seattle, Washington, and they married February 17, 1973. Two children, a son Thomas H. Shimura and a daughter Gail Shimura-Brightbill, completed the family. Thomas’s family lived in the Yakima area until World War II when the family was interned at the Heart Mountain Wyoming Internment Camp. Thomas was five years old at this time, and he lost his older brother Akio, “who succumbed to illness while interned via medical misdiagnosis.” While in the Internment Camp Thomas participated in Boy Scouts. After the war the family settled in Moses Lake and began farming. As a boy Thomas would deliver water and food to his family in the fields. At Moses Lake High School Thomas was a three-time state wrestler making him one of the first at MLHS to letter in the sport. After High School he attended a technical school for Radio and Television in Chicago where he earned an Associate Degree in Electronics. After his time in Chicago, Thomas proudly served in the Army. He was assigned to Germany as a radio technician. He served from July, 1959 to July,1965. After the military he returned to Moses Lake to continue farming from 1965-1993 and, also, working for Japan Airlines at Grant County International Airport from 1969-2008. In retirement Thomas was active with the Senior Center, the American Legion, and Lakeview Missionary Church in Moses Lake. Thomas was preceded in death by his wife Dora, by his brother Akio Shimura, and by his parents. He is survived by his son Thomas H. Shimura, his daughter Gail Shimura-Brightbill and son-in-law John Brightbill; his sister Kazuko Tanji and nephews Wesley and Mathew Tanji. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Moses Lake Senior Center at 608 East Third Ave, Moses Lake, WA 98837. Services will be held at Kayser’s Chapel of Memories, Moses Lake on April 24, 2026 at 10:00 am

Thomas Shimura

March 22, 2026