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| Bill Shiba |
William "Bill" Shiba was born
on December 13, 1921 in Cutler, California. He was the the oldest of six
children born to Japanese immigrants, Kichisaburo and Toshiye Shiba. As a young man, Bill worked on the family farm.
After the signing of Executive Order 9066, Bill and the Shiba family
were relocated to the Poston, Arizona concentration camp, block 309 on August
5, 1942. While in camp, Bill was the softball team coach for block 309 girls
and he established a friendship with Marie Haruko Kawamura (Poston 309-10-C) formerly
of Orosi.
Bill and his brother, Bob left Poston and worked
in agriculture outside of camp at Longmont, Colorado and left Poston on March
25, 1943. His father, Kichisaburo left Poston and obtained
employment in Denver in August 1943. His
mother, Toshiye, and sisters Miyako, Amy Midori, Keiko and Haruko left Poston
on February 6, 1944 and joined their family in Denver.
Marie Kawamura and sister, Kiyoko Lois, left
Poston, Arizona on November 14, 1944 and went to Chicago for employment. Bill married Marie in
Chicago on January 29, 1946, and soon
after they were married, Bill was drafted by the US Army. He served honorably in the 82nd Field Artillery Battalion. Upon his discharge from the military, Bill
and Marie settled in Cutler and raised their four children in the same area where
he grew up. He farmed, and raised his family
tending orchards and fields.
Bill and Marie enjoyed 64 happy years together.
Bill Shiba died on July 4, 2012.His wife, Marie predeceased him in September, 2009.
He is survived by his children,
Patricia (David) Kiefer of Manhattan Beach, Martin (Diana)Shiba of Oakland,
Kris Shiba of Clovis, and Virginia (Chris) Young of Dinuba; his brother, Bob Shiba of Fresno; sisters,
Mickey Tsujihara of Petaluma, Amy Kiritani of Fresno, Keiko Tai of Honolulu,
Hawaii and Rose (Herb) Abe of Orosi.
Source: Fresno Bee on
July 15, 2012
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/fresnobee/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=158515846#storylink=cpy
