Thomas Alvin Zimmerman

Thomas Alvin Zimmerman, 88, of Merced peacefully passed surrounded by family in his Merced home of 67 years on Tuesday, October 20, 2015. He was born March 19, 1927 in Mariposa, California to Charles and Nora (Gordon) Zimmerman who were a pioneer family from Missouri. The Mariposa home where he was born on Triangle Road still remains there. Thomas “Tommy” began to learn about farming at an early age and took care of his two brothers and four sisters. He moved to Merced in 1942 where he began farming on a daily basis until he was drafted for World War II at the age of 18.

He married his high school sweetheart, Ann Crafts on September 7, 1948 in Reno, Nevada. For ten years, he drove a grammar and high school bus with a flawless driving record until he worked with various farming companies. Tommy became a founding partner and president of the S and Z Inc. trucking company for thirty years and was vice-president of the Scozimoshi Inc. farming and tomato company. He proudly served in the Marine Corps in Hawthorne, Nevada and currently has a display featured in the Hawthorne Ordnance Museum of his discharge papers and pictures of the areas where he was stationed. While serving, he learned about gambling by filling in as an extra dealer and soon became an avid black jack, poker and card player. Tommy was a man of many accomplishments being skilled at bowling competing in many tournaments to being on the roof hanging thousands of Christmas decorations. He was also a gifted craftsman and mechanic. He could fix any type of car, household problem, outdoor maintenance and even created wood carvings. He had a passion for classic cars and restored a 1926 Buick and a 1956 Ford. In his spare time, he attended many of his grandchildren’s events, graduations and even took all of them to Disneyland for their first time.

Tommy purchased a motorhome where he and Ann traveled to over a dozen states stopping at famous tourist destinations. He was constantly active in his daily life and always put others before himself. Just weeks prior to his death, he was still involved with farming, cleaning his pool, visiting friends and doing chores for close family and friends.

Tommy is survived by his beloved wife Ann of 67 years, son Thomas Roy Zimmerman and his wife Sandy Zimmerman of Fresno, daughter Nelda Martin and her husband Lyle Martin of Fresno, sisters Nora “Deanie” Wallace of Merced and Ruby Petersen of Cheyenne, Wyoming. He adored and was a big part of his four grandchildren’s lives, Stacie Pihonak, Julie Larrivee, Thomas Martin and Rennah Al-Naser and his six great-grandchildren, Ruben, Joscelyn, Bo, Luke, Clarence, Luqman and Brody.

He will be laid to rest at the Veterans National Cemetery in Santa Nella, California.