MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII — Carol Shimada, the longest working federal employee for the Marine Corps, died Tuesday from natural causes at the age of 83.
Shimada worked at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii Comptroller’s Office since 1952 and interned part-time in the 1940s when the base was under Navy control as Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay. In 2009, she was the sixteenth longest serving civilian in the federal executive departments. She was a civilian payroll supervisor at the time of her death.
Shimada served more than 66 years as a federal employee and accrued 6,387 hours of sick leave. Since working at the Comptroller’s Office, she took sick leave only twice for medical reasons. She donated her annual leave, approximately 200 hours each year, to others who needed it through the Leave Donor Program.
A Kaneohe resident, Shimada was admitted to Castle Hospital May 24 where she passed away. She would have turned 84 June 13.
Shimada is survived by her two sisters and her daughter, Leanne. She also has several surviving nieces, nephews and cousins.
Despite having injuries from a fall in November 2010, Shimada continued to work every day until her death.
“I really come to work and I enjoy it,” said Carol Shimada after receiving several awards for her longevity of service in December 2009. “The most important thing is to try to treat everyone the same.”
A celebration of life service is scheduled for June 13 from 10 a.m. to noon at the base chapel.