Frank Y. Fujikawa

During World War II, the Fujikawa family was sent to the Santa Anita Assembly Center in California. Frank left for Montana to harvest sugar beets and work on the railroad. Frank’s family was transferred to the Jerome Relocation Center in Arkansas.

Frank entered the Army and worked as an auto mechanic at Headquarters Detachment 390th with the military police. He was stationed in Germany and Belgium and was honorably discharged from the Army in 1946. When the relocation center closed, the Fujikawa family relocated to Brigham City, Utah where Frank joined his family. He worked at the Air Force base as a mechanic.

Frank and Suye Mayumi met and married in Utah. Frank and Suye had four girls in Utah (Christy, Janet, Karen and Sharon). They moved to Chula Vista, California and Frank helped Suye’s father with his gardening business. Their son, David, was born in California. Frank and Suye started the Chula Vista Lawnmower shop in 1960 and worked there until they retired in 1997. Frank was also a General Contractor.

In his later years, he enjoyed living at the Chula Vista Veterans Home. Frank’s hobbies included Bingo, bowling with the JACL League, accompanying youth baseball teams to Japan, designing parade floats, motorcycle racing, building go-karts and small trains for children and adults to ride in.

He will be missed by his five children and spouses (Christy Fujikawa; Janet Fujikawa and Bill Roberts; Karen and Larry Hart; Sharon and Dave Bristow; David Fujikawa and Yuri Kaneda; nine grandchildren (Ty Garrison; Amy Gabriele; Elizabeth, Katherine and Susan Roberts; Edward and Ellen Hart; Kevin Bristow and Eric Fujikawa); seven great grandchildren (Anthony, Kalani and Frankie Garrison; Francesca, Sophie, Stephen and Dyllan Gabriele) and two surviving sisters (Martha Hirai and Rose Uyematsu). His wife, Suye, passed away on July 4, 2011. Frank passed away on February 18, 2016 and interment was on February 24, 2016.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the San Diego Parkinson’s Association or the Chula Vista Veterans Home (crafts or activities). There will be a Celebration of Life service at Glen Abbey Memorial Park on May 21, 2016.