Obituaries

Friday, July 24, 1998

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Harold M. Bitner, 79, of Honolulu, an emeritus professor of psychology at the University of Hawaii, died Wednesday in Maunalani Nursing Home.

He was also a teaching assistant at Ohio State University, dean of student personnel and vice president of student affairs at UH, and a professor of psychology at the University of Maryland, European Division.

Bitner was involved in community service. He was president of the American Cancer Society, Hawaii State Unit in 1967 and on the Wallace Rider Farrington Scholarship Committee from 1948 to 1967.

Born in Williamstown, Pa., he is survived by wife Doris; daughters Nita Bitner, Sumi Bitner-Jamieson and Martha Bitner-Babb; son Terrylee; mother Mary; brother Warren; and three grandsons. Memorial services: 3 p.m. Sunday at Waiokeola Church, 4705 Kilauea Avenue. Casual attire. In lieu of flowers, donations suggested to a charity.

Dr. Benjamin N. Branch, 66, of Honolulu, a retired physician, will be remembered in services 2 p.m. Aug. 9 at Kagyu Tegchen Ling, 26 Gartley Place. Additional information for an obituary published July 16 provided by the mortuary.

Lucy I. Clayton, 80, of Pahoa, Hawaii, died Wednesday in Hilo Hospital. She is survived by sons William, Francis J., Grady L. and Kenneth C. Ivester; daughter Lucy A. Haney; brother Clarence Ferreira; sisters Josephine Sabala, Elizabeth Stuebing, Helen Brown, Sarah Borges and Lillian Akamine; 10 grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and stepgrandchildren. Services: 10:30 a.m. today at Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home. Call from 9 to 11 a.m. Burial: Veterans Cemetery No. 2.

Otto Dias, 80, of Lahaina, died Tuesday in Kaiser-Moanalua Hospital. Born in Haina, Hawaii, he is survived by wife Akino, son Gary, daughter Jane Muraoka, brother Frank, sister Mary D. Baker and four grandchildren. Mass: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Maria Lanakila. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Maui Memorial Park.

Sione M. “Puna” Funaki, 74, of Honolulu, a retired Tongan Defense Forces sergeant, died Tuesday. Born in Tonga, he is survived by wife Mele “Foketi”; sons Sione, Tipiloma and Marvin; daughters Lupe Leota, Ikitiane Kaufusi, Alamoni Taufa, Katalina Uai, Melepaea Lauhingoa and Melemauleo Vakauta; brothers Semisi, Ilavalu and Vivili; sisters Lupe Funaki, Halamehi Kaisa, Fine Taufa and Fusi Tahaafe; 28 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Services: 6 p.m. Sunday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call after 5 p.m. Services and burial in Tonga.

Geronimo T. Gaspar, 77, of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, a retired houseman at the former Keauhou Beach Hotel, died Saturday in Kona Community Hospital. He was also a former employee of the Greenwell Ranch. Born in Pangasinana, the Philippines, he is survived by wife Marcela; sons Antonio, Ed-Dena, Delfin and Geronimo Jr.; daughters Clara Adviento, Marina Delatorre and Ana-Evelyn Gaspar Imai; 24 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Minister's admonition: 8 p.m. Monday at St. Michael's Catholic Church on Alii Drive in Kailua-Kona. Call from 5 to 9 p.m. Appreciation remarks: 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Kona Memorial Park in Holualoa, Kona. Casual attire. No flowers.

Francisco M. Intendencia, 87, of Hilo, a retired tractor driver for Kau Sugar, died Saturday in Hilo Hospital. Born in the Philippines, he is survived by son Emerson R., daughter Lolly, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Wake services: 10 a.m. Wednesday at Memorial Mortuary. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Alae Cemetery. Casual attire.

Rita C. Jacintho 91, of Koloa, Kauai, died Tuesday in Wilcox Memorial Hospital. Born in Serpa, Portugal, she is survived by son Louis; daughters Eleanor Carvalho, Mary Emura and Lydia Sakimae; brothers Domingo and Gabriel Cataluna; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and great-great-grandchildren. Mass: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Koloa St. Raphael's Catholic Church. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Koloa Catholic Cemetery. Casual attire.

Cecilia M.A.C. Kaiahua, 90, of Kalihi, a retired registered nurse for the state Department of Health, died Wednesday. Born in Kaalaea, she is survived by sons George Ching, Kalua, Abel and Donald Kaiahua and Arthur Uesugi; daughters Ruth Oyadomari and Cecilia Keawe; 31 grandchildren; and 54 great-grandchildren. Services: 10 a.m. Monday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples. Casual attire.

Billie Ann Kaleimamahu-Urrea, 34, of Waianae, died Sunday at home. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by sons Whiston Kaleimamahu and Matthew Urrea Jr.; father Frank Kaleimamahu; brothers Albert and Aaron Costa; and sisters Cheryl Costa, Roxanne Kerner, Fran Akana and Beth Hoapili. Services: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Services: 11 a.m. Wednesday at the mortuary. Call from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Burial: Nanakuli Homestead Cemetery. Casual attire.

Annie L. Kealoha, 69, of Honolulu, a retired supervisor, died Saturday in Honolulu. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by husband Charles, son Charles Jr., daughters Pearl Kealohanui and Elsie Kealoha, sister Ellen Ulii, 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Services: 7:30 p.m. Monday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at the mortuary. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Aloha attire.

Joyce S. Kirihara, 52, of Honolulu, a waitress for the Waikiki Sheraton and Moana Surfrider Hotels, died July 15 in Convalescent Center of Honolulu. Born in Kona, Hawaii, she is survived by brother Roy S. and sisters Sarah F. Juan and Jean S. Toyama. Private services. Donations suggested to the American Cancer Society, Honolulu Unit, 2370 B Nuuanu Ave., Honolulu, HI 96817.

Lavina J. Mirikitani, 90, who worked for Bishop and Hawaiian Trust, died Monday. She also worked for the State Archives and the state Bureau of Conveyances. She is survived by three half-sisters and a half-brother. Wake services: 6:30 p.m. Monday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Call after 5:30 p.m. Services: 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Central Union Church. Call after 4 p.m. Burial: Oahu Cemetery.

Gabriel Moniz, 87, of Mountain View, Hawaii and formerly of Honomu, Hawaii, a retired superintendent of harvesting with the former Pepeekeo Sugar Co., died Wednesday at home. Born in Honomu, Hawaii, he is survived by companion Rose Enos; son Gabriel Jr.; daughters Myra Ventura, Dorothy Pung, Gertrude Mip rano and Gladys Oyama; sister Elviria De Sa; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Wake services: 7 p.m. Sunday at Dodo Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 10 a.m. Monday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Papikou. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Mauna Kea Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Christina H. Nihipali, 67, of Laie, a retired custodian, died Wednesday in Honolulu. Born in Laie, she is survived by sons Paul M., Paul K., Paul A. and Joseph; daughters Pauline Mata‘u and Pamela; mother Christina Kekauoha; brothers John and Gabriel Nauahi; sisters Henrietta Rudisill and Evangeline Miller; and 16 grandchildren. Services: 10:30 a.m. Monday at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Laie Sixth Ward. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Laie Cemetery.

Kiyono Otake, 95, of Honolulu died June 23 in Oahu Care Facility. Born in Olaa, Hawaii, she is survived by son Norio; daughters Caroline S. Marumo, Agnes H. Mekata and Nancy T. Uota; brother Ralph K.; sisters Mitsue Nakamura and Yoshie Tanimoto; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Private services.

Jean S. Sato, 62, of Wahiawa died July 16 in Hale Ola Kino. Born in Waialua, she is survived by husband Charles Y.; son Keith T.; daughter Colleen T. Kimura; father Hisao Nakamoto; brothers Paul H., Walter M., Edwin, and Ralph Nakamoto; sister Elaine Agena; and three grandchildren. Private services.

Hilario C. Talub, 86, of Wahiawa, a retired truck driver from Dole Co., died July 11 in Wahiawa General Hospital. Born in Badoc, Ilocos Norte, the Philippines, he is survived by daughters Concepcion Laeno and Esterlina Cabreros, brother Eustaquio, 15 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Wake services: 7 p.m. Sunday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 11 a.m. Monday at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 1403 California Ave. Call after 9:30 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Alice M. Torres, 83, of Kaneohe, a retired Waialae Country Club waitress, died Monday. Born in Kahuku, she is survived by son Allen J., caregivers Oren and Ivy, brother Wallace Yoshimoto, sisters Grace A. Fujioka and Betty Haraguchi, seven grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grand- daughter. Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Lanakila Ward, 622 Judd St. Call from 8 to 10 a.m. Burial: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl.

William Von Seggern III, 67, of Kailua, a retired aeronautical radio operator, died Saturday in Honolulu. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Janice; sons William IV and Scott; daughters Cherie “Moani” Navarro and Sandee Medeiros; sister Muriel Kalilikane; and 10 grandchildren. Services: 11:30 a.m. Monday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial to follow. Aloha attire.

Isamu Watanabe, 80, of Kahului, a World War II veteran, died Wednesday in Maui Memorial Hospital. Born in Pulehu, Maui, he is survived by wife Patsy F.; son Ivan M.; daughter Chozo; sisters Yoshimi Takehara and Yoshie Oba; and four grandchildren. Services: 5 p.m. Monday at Nakamura Mortuary. Inurnment: 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at Maui Memorial Park.