Tsugio "George" Ishihara

Tsugio “George” Ishihara was born January 11,1919 to Shinjiro and Mitsu Takenobu Ishihara in Littlerock, Washington. He attended Littlerock Elementary School and graduated from Rochester High School in 1939. In 1942, under Executive Order 9066, the family along with all people of Japanese ancestry were relocated to assembly centers and eventually interned at various detention centers. George’s family was sent to Twin Falls (Minidoka), Idaho where George met and married the love of his life, Umeko “Mary” Nagasawa on June 17, 1943.

After internment in 1945 the family moved back to Littlerock where George worked in Olympia plywood mills and eventually for the Olympia Brewing Company his last 19 years before retiring in 1981. The family moved to Tumwater on Littlerock Road where George built the family home (using only manual hand tools) in 1949. There, George and Mary raised sons Roger (Joan) and Jim (Teri), daughters Janet and Ruth (Dave Smead). George enjoyed supporting his children’s activities having served as Tumwater High School Booster Club president in 1963/64. He was an avid salmon fisherman and a “perpetual motion machine” around the house; the motto was why buy it when you can build it!

George was a very independent person who shied away from assistance and had to make adjustments while living in assisted care at Olympics West Retirement Inn during the past eight years. He was constantly reminded to “slow down” while using his walker as he loved to tease the wonderful staff. George was preceded in death by his parents, wife Mary, an older brother and sister at infancy, sisters Kumiko, Miyeko, and Yoshiko. Survivors include his four children, five grandsons, six great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at Mills & Mills Funeral Home, 5725 Littlerock Road SW, Tumwater, WA, 1:00 p.m., Wednesday May 20, 2015. Viewing will be May 19, 4 to 7 p.m. and May 20, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity or the West Thurston Regional Fire Authority (Littlerock), 10828 Littlerock Road SW, Olympia, WA 98512