Charles Masaru Sumimoto

May 1, 1927 September 6, 2015

Our beloved father, Charles Masaru Sumimoto, known affectionately by his family and friends as “Wacky”, passed away on September 6, 2015 at the age of 88. He was at home, his family at his side.

Dad was born in Oakland, CA where his parents Sakuyo and Junichi owned a small liquor and soda store. When WWII broke out, he and his family were sent to Topaz Relocation Camp in Utah. He attended Topaz High School where he made many lifelong friends, who to this day hold yearly class reunions. After the war ended he served in the Army and then returned to the Bay Area after marrying his sweetheart, Masaye. They would spend the next 65 years together raising 4 children and 6 grandchildren until Masaye passed in 2014.

Dad worked at Simmons Mattress Company, one of the few businesses that hired Japanese at the time. He owned and operated a flower nursery for 20 years along with his brother Tomio (Rick). For the last 35 years of his life he worked at and became a beloved fixture at the Oaks Card Club.

Wacky will be remembered for his gift of making friends and strangers feel welcome. He enjoyed people and was truly the life of the party. His stories and jokes made everyone laugh. He cared deeply for his family and friends, never missing a chance to help. Dad loved gardening, coaching basketball, bowling, fishing, gambling and trips to Lake Tahoe.

He is survived by his children: Kathleen Lilienstein (Jeff), Pamela Honda, Martin Sumimoto (Kim), Kelly Sumimoto and his grandchildren: Jordan, Emiko, Lora, Aaron, Allison and Nathan. He was predeceased by his wife Masaye, his brothers Tomio “Rick” and Tsutomu “Tut.”

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on October 17th, at Sunset View Mortuary, top of Fairmount Avenue, El Cerrito, Ca. There will be a reception immediately following at the Mira Vista Country Club.