Ayako Dobson

Ayako Oshiro was born on 15 May 1936 on the island of Okinawa, Japan. Having come from poverty, she worked on various jobs to help support her family. Jesse Dobson met her while he was stationed on Okinawa as a Marine. He was love struck with Ayako’s beauty and happy attitude about life.

She was a hard working person and could speak English semi-fluently which made it easy for them to date. She was full of youthful energy and enjoyed volleyball and dancing. Also, she was artistic and enjoyed playing Marine Corps Hymn on a harmonica and later piano when Jesse purchased a piano for her. Her artistic talents influenced her oldest daughter, Emiko, to become a fine art painter and also inspired her son, James, and daughter, Jessie, to become musicians at a young age. Jessie also inherited Ayako’s good cooking skills.

Jesse and Ayako married on 15 April, 1964 after finishing an arduous paperwork process to get permission from the U.S. Government to marry. Ayako’s first son, Masura, from her previous marriage, was not allowed by Japanese law to be adopted by Jesse; so, he remained with his father. Ayako traveled with Jesse to various Marine Corps assignments in Panama Canal, Camp Jejune, Okinawa and Camp Pendleton. While Jesse was in the Vietnam war, Ayako worked tirelessly as a seamstress while raising two children. Jesse earned a combat promotion from enlisted to Lieutenant during the war. When Jesse returned from Vietnam, she had saved enough of her money so that they could afford a down payment on their first home in Oceanside. Also, their third child, James, was born nine months after Jesse came back from the war. After 24 years of Marine Corps service, Jesse retired as a Marine Officer.

Ayako continued to work so they could afford to live in their new home. Over the years, Ayako raised three children while working. She was also industrious that she started a garden and planted some tiny trees that have become huge and still stand today. Over the years, Jesse and Ayako traveled to many destinations with their motor home including with their kids. She also enjoyed sports and was an avid Padres and Chargers fan for many years. Once their kids moved away, they both traveled, going to places like Yosemite.

On September 3rd, 2021, Ayako fell to the floor unconscious, striking her head on tile and was sent to Escondido Hospital. At first, she seemed to be able to recover but later doctors discovered a faulty heart valve that caused her to lose consciousness. Over the following 15 months, she was unable to recover and spent time at several medical facilities. With multiple systems failing her, she passed away on Thanksgiving morning.

She’ll be remembered as a wonderful women with dedication to her kids and husband. She was a wonderful cook. When Jesse was working months long, 16 hours a day, non-stop at San Onofre nuclear power plant, she took over Jesse’s home responsibilities in addition to her own. She was religiously faithful. Her best times were when she was watching Japanese music while having a kitty on her lap. Her kindnesses and gentle spirit was beautiful and will always be loved forever and kept alive in our memories.