Trumpeter Francis King
will get a jazz send-off

By Linda Aragon
Star-Bulletin

Musicians will gather at the funeral of Francis Coolidge King, 72, for a musical tribute to the man who loved jazz.

“He specifically requested he have a jazz group” at his funeral, said his wife, Lilly.

King was killed last Friday at his Palolo Valley home. Police are still searching for suspects in the apparent beating.

King had been a well-known jazz player and showman since the big- band era of the 1940s.

Musician Gabe Baltazar said he was 15 years old when he went to dance halls to hear King’s band, the Esquire Orchestra, play.

People stopped dancing to watch the entertaining King.

“He was the hot man of the Esquire,” Baltazar said.

King’s brother, Thomas Cho, gave King his first trumpet while he was a student at Kalakaua Intermediate School. King’s talent was noticed at Farrington High School where as a freshman, he played in the award-winning senior band.

Named the best high school band in the state, the Farrington Band filled in when the Royal Hawaiian Band was out of town.

King performed until the day before his death, playing at the 100th birthday of his high school maestro, Earl Christoph.

“He was a guy with a lot of energy,” Baltazar said. “If there was jazz, he was always there. He was a true jazz player and a jazz fan.”

In college, King frequented the jazz clubs of New York where the young musician met Dizzy Gillespie -- and jumped in and played with the jazz great.

“He was not afraid of sitting in,” Baltazar said. “He was not bashful.” Just over 5 feet tall, “He was a little guy playing a lot of horn,” Baltazar said.

King was born in Wahiawa in 1924. His parents, Maria Benigna Gomez and Cho Kiong Ha, were of Puerto Rican and Korean descent.

Friends, family, local jazz musicians and a Mexican music group King recently played with will perform after his funeral Monday.

Visitation is at 6 p.m. with services to follow at 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Diamond Head Mortuary. Private inurnment will be Tuesday at Diamond Head Memorial Park.

In addition to his wife, Lilly, King is survived by daughter Cora Y. King, sons Lorrin F. King and Miles T. King, sisters Mary Brillante and Mae King Vause, brother Thomas Cho and several nieces and nephews.

Gene C. Anderson, 78, of Honolulu, a retired lieutenant colonel with the Air Force, died March 10 in Honolulu. Born in Kansas City, Mo., he is survived by wife Karla; and son Bernie Bise. Services: 11:30 a.m Wednesday at National Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. Aloha attire.

Dionisio S. “Danny” Ballesteros, 62, of Haleiwa died April 22 in Wahiawa General Hospital. Born in Waialua, he is survived by wife Emma V.; daughters Geraldine and Patricia Ann; brothers Basilio and Ben; sisters Maria Acosta, Gregoria Maglupay and Marcelina “Marcie” Calilao. Services: 7 p.m. Sunday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, makai chapel. Call 6-9 p.m. Mass: 10:45 a.m. Monday at St. Michael Church, 67-390 Goodale Ave., Waialua. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery, Kaneohe. Casual attire.

Gregorio G. Baybayan, 87, of Keaau, Hawaii, a retired cook for Hilo Hospital, died Tuesday in Hale Anuenue Rehabilitation Care Center. Born in Binalonan, Pangasinan, the Philippines, he is survived by sons Gregorio G. Jr. and Gilford; daughter Grebelen; sister Perpetua Almuete; and two grandchildren. Wake: 7 p.m. Sunday at Memorial Mortuary. Call 6-9 p.m. Graveside services: 10 a.m. Monday at Alae Cemetery. Casual attire.

Frederick W. “Sonny” Belanio, 44, of Paauilo, Hawaii, a journeyman electrician for Hamakua Sugar Co., died Tuesday in North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born in Hilo, he is survived by wife Jacqueline Belanio; sons Frederic W. Jr. and Chase; daughters Jenny and Jaime; mother Rose Wong; sisters Katherine Jolly, Angelina Alcosiba, Glenda Shirley, Estrelita Campogan, Gail Reyes and Althea Danao; brothers Alfonso, Jeffrey and Craig; and two grandchildren. Mass: 7 p.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Honokaa. Call after 5 p.m. Services: 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Call after 8 a.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire. No flowers.

Frank P. Bonham, 83, of Honolulu died April 19 in Maluhia Hospital. He had no known survivors. Private services.

Thomas E. Boston Jr., 84, of Honolulu died March 7 in Tripler Hospital. He was born in Wisconsin. He had no known survivors. Graveside services: 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at National Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. Casual attire.

Charles J. Brenham Jr., 75, of Honolulu died April 22 in St. Francis Hospital. He was born in Honolulu. He had no known survivors. Private services.

Alberta L. Crawford, 79, of Honolulu died April 18 in Kuakini Hospital. She is survived by cousin Bernice Calus. Graveside services: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Hawaiian Memorial Park.

Frank L. Feistal, 62, of Honolulu died March 30 in Tripler Hospital. He was born in Illinois. He had no known survivors. Graveside services: 9 a.m. Wednesday at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Casual attire.

Robert H. Hirai, 68, of Kaneohe, a retired heavy equipment mechanic with Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co., died Saturday at home. Born in Waimanalo, he is survived by wife Helen C.; daughters Linda M. Massey and Deborah A. Maeda; brothers Tadayoshi and Mitchell; and sisters Jessie Chang, Betty Enterline and Jane Horner. Services: 6 p.m. Monday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Call after 5 p.m. Burial: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Casual attire. No flowers.

Hatsuno Izumihara, 87, of Mililani died April 22 in Wahiawa General Hospital. Born in Lahaina, she is survived by sons Robert Y. and Allen T.; daughters Helene H. Yamaguchi, Beatrice T. Chang, Jean K. Abe and Harriet F. Matsumura; sister Esther Y. Kaiura; 14 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Private services.

James Kahale, 63, of Waimea, a retiree of Niihau Ranch, died Tuesday in Kauai Veterans Hospital. Born on Niihau, he is survived by daughters Joyce Simao, Debbie Kanahele, Rhoda Pahulehua, Laurie Kali and Caroline Kahale; hanai daughter Melveenella; sons James, Allan and Ricky; 23 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Services: 8-11 a.m. Saturday at Garden Isle Mortuary. Burial: Kekaha Hawaiian Cemetery.

Joseph N. Kaulukukui, 79, of Kailua died Sunday in Castle Hospital. Born in Hilo, he is survived by wife Mildred; son Joseph K. Jr.; brothers Tommy, Solomon, Bill and Glenn; and sister Eleanor Kenney. Graveside services: 3 p.m. Monday at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Casual attire.

Paul Kihano, 80, of Honolulu died Friday at home. Born on Kauai, he is survived by sons Paul Jr., Milton and Gaylen; daughter Pauline Catalano; 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Services: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call after 8 a.m. Entombment: Valley of the Temples. Casual attire. No flowers.

Edward Y.C. Kim, 76, died Wednesday in Kaiser Hospital. Born on Maui, he is survived by wife Elsie; son Elward; daughters Karen Anderson and Gail Kim; sisters Sona Lavarnway, Bessie Park and Margaret Choy; brother Howard; and two grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Monday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call 6-9 p.m. Graveside services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery.

Mildred E. Kraynik, 90, of Livermore, Calif. and formerly of Waianae, a retired high school librarian with Oahu School District, died last Friday in Livermore. Born in Victor, Colo., she is survived by daughter Saundra Lormand; and a granddaughter. Inurnment will be in Hawaii.

Charles C.N. Lee, 85, of Honolulu, a retiree of Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Leeward Community College, died Saturday in Island Nursing Home. Born on Maui, he is survived by stepdaughters Jennie Villanueva, Margaret Kwon, Louise Inouye and Sheila C.Y. Shinn; sister Eva Tom; 14 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great- grandchildren. Private services.

Doris H. Mitamura, 83, of Hilo, a retired chef with Pagoda Floating Restaurant and founder of Hilo Sakura Ongakudan and Hilo Sakura Engekidan, died Wednesday in Hilo Hospital. Born in Waipahu, she is survived by daughters Dorothy H. Horita and Iris A. Mitamura; sisters Irene Y. Shimabuku and Jean F. Fujimoto; and four grandchildren. Services: 4 p.m. Sunday at Dodo Mortuary. Call after 3 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.

Alexandria Mon, 78, of Kailua died Monday in Kailua. Born in Honokaa, Hawaii, she is survived by husband Francisco P.; son Melvyn; sister Felicia Salvatera; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Private services.

Gordon H.L. Pang, 61, of Honolulu will be remembered in services Sunday. He was killed in a traffic accident on Kamehameha Highway, Kalihi last Friday. He was a sheltered worker from Ho‘opono at Gaspro Co. and a retiree of Hawaiian Electric Co. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by mother Elsie; stepfather William; brothers Norman H.C. and Donald H.W.; sister Kathleen Y.F. Nagata. Services: 11 a.m. Sunday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Inurnment: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at National Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. Casual attire. No flowers.

Mary M. Rawhouser, 93, of Kaneohe, a retired registered nurse, died Wednesday in Pohai Nani Care Home. Born in Pennsylvania, she is survived by daughter Claire Lutes; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Private services.

Joseph D. Roque Jr., is also survived by stepson Michael Mahi and daughter Constance Mahuka. Wake: 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa. Call 8:30-10:30 a.m. Casual or aloha attire. No flowers. Incorrect information for an obituary Wednesday provided by the mortuary.

Vinzenz “Vince” Ruckstuhl, 73, of Honolulu, former owner of Swiss Haus Restaurant and manager of Wailana Restaurant, died April 14 in Honolulu. Born in Switzerland, he is survived by brothers Josef and Erwin; and sisters Hermine, Freida, Josy, Anna and Rosemarie. Private services.

Carol E. Teramoto, 56, of Pahala, Hawaii, president and manager of Paul’s Place Inc. and co-owner of Teramoto Contracting, died Wednesday in Kau Hospital. Born in Hilo, she is survived by husband Melvin W.; sons Paul T., Curt K., Don K. and Lance N.; father Takashi Oda; brothers Terry and Cyrus Oda and Roy T. Teramoto; and sister Larraine H. Oda. Services over ashes: 4 p.m. tomorrow at Pahala Hongwanji Mission. Call after 3 p.m. Casual attire.

Terrence D. Wong, 57, of Honolulu, assistant dean of graduate school of the Union Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, died April 18 in Honolulu. He was also former assistant dean and director of graduate studies of Marquette University of Milwaukee. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by parents Raymond Y.B. and Rose N.S.; brother Curtis; sister Sylvianne Young; and brothers Alton and Neal. Services: 4:30 p.m. tomorrow at Mystical Rose Chapel at St. Louis High School. Aloha attire. No flowers.