William Hisao Omoto

On June 20, 2021, William “Bill” Omoto passed away at the age of 95. He was born December 15, 1925 to Hisakichi and Kuniyo (Oka) Omoto of Los Gatos, California. His early youth was spent in San Benito, California before the family, which included his younger brothers Ben and Dick, settled in Monterey, California. Bill attended the original Walter Colton School and Monterey High School until World War II intervened during his sophomore year. At the outbreak of the war, the family was interned initially at the Salinas Rodeo Ground before being moved to the Poston, Arizona Relocation Camp. He graduated from high school there and entered into the United States Army where he served with the 100th / 442nd Regimental Combat Team, seeing action in southern France and Italy. Upon his return after the war and attaining the rank of Staff Sargent, he settled in Chicago and married Margaret Toshiko Nakamura, whom Bill had met during his time in Poston. Eventually he and Margaret returned to Monterey where he worked at Abinante Music Store. He graduated from Hartnell Junior College where he studied bookkeeping. He was employed as a bookkeeper for Wilder and Jones Plumbing, then worked as a Tax Assessor with the County of Monterey until his retirement.

Bill enjoyed sports playing basketball, golf, softball, bowling, and spent several years as coaching his son’s baseball teams. He spent many years as the Quartermaster for and was the last living Charter Member of the Monterey Peninsula Nisei Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1629. Traveling and attending annual Nisei VFW gatherings were another of his favorite past-times. Bill and his wife spent about 50 years running the annual Easter Egg hunt at Del Rey Oaks Park through the VFW Post 1629

His wife, Margaret, predeceased him in 2018. Bill is survived by his sons, Michael and David (Sylvia);, daughter, Linda Eady, and granddaughter, Pamela Bell.

A private family service for interment has been held at the California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers or koden, a donation may be made in his memory to the SPCA for Monterey County, P.O. Box 3058, Monterey, CA 93942 or online at their web site. To sign Bill’s guest book and leave messages for his family, please visit www.thepaulmortuary.com.