FORT SMITH — Robert (Bob) Yoshiaki Yada,

born 1937, passed on the 15th of May, 2023 after a bout with cancer. Due to the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II, in accordance with Executive Order 9066 for all persons of Japanese descent, a 4-year-old Bob and his parents were incarcerated within the Rohwer Internment Camp in McGehee, Ark. until 1945.

Bob would reflect that his earliest memories were of believing that “everyone that looked like me must live behind tall, barbed wire fences and see armed guards in towers every day.”

Bob graduated from Central High School of Little Rock, Ark. in 1955, and later completing a bachelor’s degree of engineering from University of Arkansas, Bob served in the Army National Guard until 1989 retiring at the rank of Major, in the role of Branch Chief- Supervisory General Engineer of the Engineer Plans and Real Property Branch, U.S Army Garrison, Fort Chaffee, Ark.

Influenced by his family’s forcible interment during WWII and serving as Chief Engineer for Fort Chaffee, Bob was the Subject Matter Expert as Engineer Troop Coordinator in the opening of the Fort Chaffee military Hospital, mobilization of the 1975 process settlement of 50,000 Vietnam refugees as well as the process settlement of the 27,000 Cuban refugees that followed in 1980.

Bob enjoyed being a proud father, a doting grandfather, an inducted member of the Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineering, a full time Razorback fan, a persistent golfer, loyal member of the ROMEO’s (Retired Old Men Eating Out) Crew and non-starter of the honey-do list provided by Sarah on a daily basis.

He was married to Sarah Edwards of Little Rock, Ark. in February of 1964. This 59-year union was blessed with two children. His legacy can be seen in his children: Gregory (Kim) Yada and Susan Yada; his three grandchildren – Devon Yada, Kara Yada and Rachel Branek; his only brother, Richard Yada; brotherin-law, Ken Melick and a host of devoted nieces, nephews by love, grandnieces and grandnephew.

Visitation services will be held Thursday, May 16th, Edwards Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m. and Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church, Ft. Smith on Friday, May 17th at 10 a.m. with burial at the National Cemetery, Ft. Smith at 11 a.m. Memorials may be given to Bob’s favorite passion projects: “WWII Japanese American Internment Museum” P.O. Box 1263, McGehee Ark. 71654 or “Fellowship of Christian Athletes” 3444 Old Greenwood Road, Fort Smith, Ark., 72903.

The family is grateful for the medical care and service provided by the Mercy Health Care System of Fort Smith.

Online condolences may be sent to: www.edwardsfuneralhome.com