Pedro M. Tambo

Pedro was born February 23, 1921 in Pangasinan, Philippines.

He is survived by his wife, Mitsuko K. Tambo, son Bob Tambo, daughter-law Kit Tambo, his grandson Robert James and great-grandson Zachary. Also survived by daughter Lucie K. Booth, son-law Tom Booth and grandchildren, Matthew, Naomi and Owen. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews whom he sponsored from the Philippines. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Linda Tambo-Pinson, brothers Antonio and Francisco Tambo.

Pedro was a veteran of World War II serving in the South Pacific with the 25th Infantry from Hawaii. After his service in the Armed Forces, Pedro joined the Merchant Marines where he traveled the world on "the ship" where he made lifelong friends. One of his friends gave him a down payment for their first house in the US. He met Mitsuko in Yokohama, Japan where his ship was anchored. They were married and had two children, Linda and Robert. Tiring of traveling the world and being away from his family, Pedro quit his lucrative position with the Merchant Marines and brought his family to America. Settling in Los Angeles, CA he worked in maintenance for Horton & Converse, a pharmacy company in Downtown Los Angeles. In 1964, Pedro and Mitsuko gave birth to their third child, Lucie. He later worked in jobs in El Monte and Torrance, CA. He retired from full-time work when he reached the age of 65.

The Tambo family enjoyed driving to Central California to visit relatives in the "country" that is, Santa Maria, Los Osos, San Luis Obispo, Guadalupe and Salinas. He often took his children to Knotts Berry Farm, Disneyland, San Diego Zoo and to parks in Los Angeles. When grandchildren came into his life, he doted on them and loved them.

His love for his relatives in the Philippines prompted him to sponsor them so they could obtain visas to the US. He first sponsored his nieces, Marilou and Lori then his brothers Francisco and Antonio followed. Today there are hundreds of close and distance relatives living in the Santa Maria/Los Osos area.

Pedro instilled in his children his tremendous work ethic, the meaning of integrity & honesty. Pedro and Mitsuko were able to send all three of his children to private, Catholic schools with meager salaries, understanding the importance of Faith and education. Pedro and Mitsuko were extraordinary examples of love and marriage by being married for 67 years. Pedro was very proud of his children, especially Linda, a registered nurse, this only child with a college degree. He was thankful to Lucie and Tom for his three grandchildren and he was overjoyed when Robbie, Bob & Kit's son completed boot camp from the United States Marine Corps.

"Pete," as his friends would call him, loved to garden and raised vegetables every summer the back yard of his home in Los Angeles. He also had a knack to be creative with his hands often building furniture and cabinets and working on projects around the house. He would pick up extra money by painting houses and doing handyman projects for friends. He was a very generous man. His lifelong motto was, "If I have it, I'll give it." He would never miss the opportunity to help his children or his relatives when they needed something. When he didn't have it, he would find a way to give it.

For the last 8 years, Pete was afflicted with dementia and it took a toll on his behavior. His final years were spent in assisted living in Fresno after failed attempts of his family trying to care for him because of the disease. The relatives in Los Osos visited him often and he was last seen by MItsuko, Lucie and Bob on Father's Day of 2018.

Pete Tambo was a Faithful man and lived a full life. In the last years of his life, he often spoke of his Faith and shared it with his fellow patients at the assisted living facility.

May Eternal Rest be granted unto his soul. And may Perpetual Light shine upon him.

A Funeral Service for Pedro will be held Saturday, February 2, 2019 at 2:00 P.M., location:

Tinkler Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 475 North Broadway Street, Fresno, California 93701.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.tinklerfuneralchapel.com for the Tambo family.