Yumiko Murata Oji

She was born into a family of three brothers and three sisters in Concord in 1942. Months later she was detained with her family at Turlock Assembly Center and soon after sent to Gila River Internment Camp, Arizona.

After leaving Arizona her family lived in Stockton. She excelled academically at French Camp Elementary School where she was the valedictorian of her class. She moved to Westley and graduated from Patterson High School.

Yumiko returned to Stockton and attended San Joaquin Delta College. While living on Grant Street she met her husband. Later she moved to San Francisco and worked at KQED while enrolled at San Francisco Community College. Yumi graduated from San Francisco State College in 1964.

Yumiko married Jess Oji in 1965 and lived in Texas a brief time until making Stockton their permanent home. She was a dedicated third grade teacher at Taft and Hoover Elementary schools in Stockton Unified for almost 30 years. Her passion for teaching was recognized when she was honored with a Golden Key Award for Teacher of Excellence for Hoover School in 2000.

She was a world traveler visiting Hawaii, Japan, China, Mexico, and Paris. Two of her favorite places were Puerto Vallarta and Germany, especially during the Octoberfest.

She was a volunteer with the Hospice of San Joaquin Butterfly Auxiliary.

Spending time with her extended family was a priority and a joy for her.

Yumiko was preceded in death by her parents, Tanigoro Murata and Setsu Honda and siblings, Atsuko Isozaki, Shiyeko Matsuhiro, Miyeko Kawamura, Matsuyuki Murata, and Hitoshi Murata. She is survived by her brother, Tadashi Murata of Arizona, and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial service to be held at Calvary Church, 2343 Country Club Blvd, on Saturday, January 21 at 1:00 PM.,

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Hospice of San Joaquin or Calvary Church.