Obituary of Tsugio Kubota

Tsugio Kubota, of Lodi, passed away on October 18, 2008, surrounded by his family, at the age of 88 in Lodi. Mr. Kubota was born in Terminous, California on September 18, 1920, to Jihachi and Sono (Kawasaki) Kubota. He grew up in this area, having graduated from Stockton High School in 1940. He went on to attend U.C. Davis College of Agriculture. In 1942, he and his family were sent to the Rohwer Relocation Camp in Arkansas. From 1944-1945, he served in the United States Army. He moved back to Lodi where he was the owner-manager of T. Kubota Trucking. Later he worked as an operations manager for the agricultural companies, Dwight Atherton Pickle Company, San Joaquin Vegetable Growers Assn., Inc., Ripon Pacific, Inc., and most recently, president, F. & K. Enterprises, Inc. and manager of Farmington Produce, Inc. He served as president of Lodi Nisei Civic Society, president of Stockton Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League, Director of Sunrise Lions Club of Lodi, and was also active in the Explorer Post of Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Kubota was an active member of Tensho-kotai-jingu-kyo and served as chairperson for the Sacramento Branch of Tensho-kotai-jingu-kyo. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed traveling and spending time with his family. He was well known for his lifelong passion for fishing and at the age of 82, relished the biggest catch of his career - a 5 ft., 50+ lb. Redfish off the coast of Florida. Mr. Kubota is survived by his wife of sixty-four years, Florence Kubota of Lodi; children, Glenn Kubota of Bronx, New York, Carrie (Gary) Fujino of Belmont, CA, Kristine (Glenn) Morton of Campbell, CA, Elizabeth (Kenneth) Whitney of Scarsdale, New York, Gregory Kubota of Lodi; six grandchildren, Leo, Ashley, Rachel, Alison, Michelle and Grace. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Jeanne Kubota in 1992, and brother, Takeshi Kubota in 1994. Services will be conducted by the Sacramento Branch of Tensho-kotai-jingu-kyo, Saturday, October 25, 2008, at 4:00 p.m. at Lodi Funeral Home. They request no koden or flowers. There is no visitation, and committal is private. Memorial contributions may be made to Lodi Memorial Hospital, Building Fund, 975 S. Fairmont Avenue, Lodi, CA 95240.