Thomas J. Nishimuta, a longtime Cushing area resident, passed away on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 in the Cushing Regional Hospital at the age of 65 years.
Services have been entrusted to the Palmer Marler Funeral Home, Cushing, OK. A Rosary Service will be held at 7:00 p.m., Friday, February 5, 2010 in the Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Cushing with Reverend Matthew G. La Chance officiating. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00 p.m., Saturday, February 6, 2010 in the Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church with Reverend Matthew G. La Chance officiating. Burial will be held at Euchee Valley Memorial Park.
The son of the late Joseph Nishimuta and Maxie (Kilmer) Nishimuta, Tom was born on February 5, 1944 in Little Rock, AR. He was reared and educated in the Cushing, Schlegel, and Drumright area. Following graduation from Drumright High School, Tom enlisted into the United States Air Force in 1962. He was eventually stationed at Okinawa, Japan during the Vietnam War, where he was a jet mechanic. After receiving his honorable discharge in 1968, Tom lived in Enid, OK where he worked at Vance Air Force Base as a jet mechanic and eventually worked for the Enid Police Department for nine years before returning to Cushing in 1982. Following his return to the Cushing area, Tom opened his own mechanic shop, Tom’s Auto Repair, which was located on west Main Street.
Tom was united in marriage to Delores Rumbold on October 27, 1976 in Enid, OK.
Tom was a member of the VFW Post 1118 in Cushing and in his spare time he enjoyed working on cars, spending time with his family, and grilling out.
Survivors include his wife Delores of the home; two daughters, Sharla Reed and her husband Wallace of Glencoe, OK and Mari Ann Nishimuta of Stillwater, OK; three step-daughters, Shari Lovett and her husband Brian of Grove, OK, Norma Babb and her husband David of Parsons, KS, and Kelly Haught of Cushing; nine brothers and sisters, Ted Nishimuta and his wife Connie of Cushing, OK, Laura Williams of Cushing, Jerry Nishimuta of Cleveland, OK, Mary Salvia and her husband Peter of Loveland, Co, Robert Nishimuta and his wife Pam of Arvada, CO, Susan Thompson of Tulsa, OK, Steven Nishimuta and his wife Zoe of Loveland, CO, Edward Nishimuta and his wife Glenna of Cushing, and Mike Nishimuta and his wife Lisa of Mannford, OK; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
In addition to his parents, Tom was preceded in death by one brother, Leonard Nishimuta.
The Nishimuta family requests that in lieu of flowers that memorial contributions be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Oklahoma Chapter, 500 N. Broadway Avenue, Suite 250, Oklahoma City, OK 73102 in Tom’s name. Envelopes for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society can be acquired from Palmer Marler Funeral Home.
Condolences and an online guestbook are available at www.PalmerMarlerFH.com.
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