George M. "Donuts" Kawahara

May 14, 1922 - February 14, 2012

George M. "Donuts" Kawahara Obituary George M. Kawahara passed away on February 14, 2012 at 10AM in Spokane, WA. He was born to Seiichi and Kikuno Kawahara on May 14, 1922 in Seattle. At the age of 6 he went to Japan to live with relatives. After graduating from Sootoku High School, a boys? school in Hiroshima, he returned to Seattle and attended Garfield High School where he acquired the nickname ?Donuts?. George regularly bought powdered sugar donuts on his way to school and often had the tell-tale white mustache. During WWII George spent four years in an internment camp in Minidoka, Idaho where he organized musical performing groups and produced regular shows. After the war George spent ten years working with the Great Northern Railroad in Spokane. He eventually opened his own business importing original movies from Japan and contracting to show them in Japanese communities in the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada. He eventually purchased a movie theater in Seattle and offered the imported movies there for many years. He met his wife, Toshie Sato, in Spokane. They were married in 1960 and enjoyed 51 years together. George was a charter member of the Spokane Buddhist Church and was one of the many people who helped build the original church. George enjoyed his life in the entertainment industry. He joined the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local #93 in 1963. He worked as a projectionist most of his career at the Fox and the Post Street Theaters and worked at the Japanese Pavilion during Expo 74. Besides traveling and cooking, golf was one of his many interests. He organized golf groups and tournaments and sponsored youth baseball and basketball teams. He made many friends through work, church, and golf. He was preceded in death by his younger brother, Harry Kawahara. He is survived by his wife Toshie and cousins living in the Seattle area, California and Japan. As per his request, there will be no funeral service. In lieu of flowers the family asks that remembrance contributions be sent to: The Hospice House Fund in Memory of George Kawahara, P.O. Box 2215, Spokane, WA 99210.