OBITUARY

Friday, Jun. 13, 2008

Yoshito Takahashi

A remembrance will be held 2 p.m. June 14 at the Fresno Buddhist Church (Annex Building), 1340 Kern St., Fresno, for Yoshito Takahashi, 87, of Clovis. Lisle Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Mr. Takahashi, a retired farmer of 60 years, died June 3.

In 1977, Mr. Takahashi was named Clovis "Citizen of the Year" and was inducted into the Clovis Hall of Fame in 1979.

Mr. Takahashi was born June 16, 1920, in Clovis, and lived on the family farm his entire life. He attended Clovis Grammar School and graduated from Clovis High School in 1938.

After being sent to a U.S. internment camp in Poston, Ariz., during World War II, he returned to Clovis to farm with his brother Ted.

In addition to operating Takahashi Farms, he was actively involved in his church, the community and many civic and professional organizations. He was a member of the Fresno County Farm Bureau, Central California Freestone Peach Association and treasurer of the Nisei Farmers' League. He promoted the sport of judo and was a member of the Central California Black Belt Association and served on the National Junior Olympic Judo Committee in the 1960s.

He also helped make possible the CD-based cardiac lab at Clovis Community Hospital. On June 5, 1999, the Japanese government awarded Mr. Takahashi the "Order of the Sacred Treasure" in recognition for his contributions to the cultural enrichment and friendship between the people of Japan and the United States.

He is survived by his wife, Yoshiye; a son, Chuck, and his wife, Alyce; two daughters, Lorraine, and Brenda Treadwell, and her husband, Dan; a brother, Ted Takahashi, and his wife, Irene, of Madera; two sisters, Sue Okada, of Gardena, and Sally Matsumoto, and her husband, Tom, of Torrance; three grandchildren, Brian, Elizabeth and Claire, all of Clovis; and 15 nieces and nephews.