Kayoko Colbey

Kayoko Colbey, age 91, a resident of El Paso, Texas passed away at home on Monday, January 7. She was born in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan and at a young age her family moved to Kummamoto, Kyushu, Japan where she attended Kumamoto Daiichi High School receiving high honors in mathematics while working in her family's grocery store. During World War II, she worked at the airport in Kummamoto and Fukuoka on projects unknown to most of the Japanese. During an air raid she witnessed a B-25 Mitchell bomber strafed the building she was working narrowly escaping with her life and she was blessed to return to her family.

After the war, while walking across a bridge in Kummamoto, she met and later married John H. Colbey, an army soldier that was stationed there, both finding love at first sight starting one of the greatest love stories. These were difficult times as U.S. and Japanese governments frowned on these relationships. To make matters worse, John Colbey was sent to fight in the Korean War resulting on him being wounded in action. John was sent to Osaka, Japan to recover from multiply wounds. Kayoko left her home to be with John until he was healed. In 1952 they came to the U.S. and they found a home in east Texas. Kayoko gave birth to her first son Thomas and later to their first daughter Anna. After other duty posts, John and Kayoko were station at Fort Bliss where they were blessed with two other sons John and David.

In 1999, Kayoko lost the love of her life, John and her son David a year later.

Kayoko will reunite with her one and only love, John, at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery where they will reembrace their love together forever.

Kayoko leaves behind her daughter Anna and two sons Thomas and John. She also has four grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Center Chapel One was an inspiration of God’s love for her and family.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at 12:00pm at Fort Bliss Center Chapel One. The family will receive friends on that day from 11:00am until 12:00pm at the church. Services entrusted to Martin Funeral Home East. www.funerariasdelangel.com/martin-east