Edna Y. Fujita, 84, of Lahaina, died Saturday in Kula Hospital. Born in Hiroshima, Japan, she is survived by son Thomas; daughters Lily Oba and Grace Oumi; brother Kiyoshi Okuda; sister Irene H. Hidalgo; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Service: 4 p.m. Thursday at Lahaina Hongwanji Mission. Casual attire.Frances A. Kimura of Hilo, died last Tuesday in Queen's Hospital. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by husband Herbert M., daughter Ramona Ropak, and a grandson. Private services.
Benny P. Lista, 89, of Honolulu, died June 18 in St. Francis Hospital. Born in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, the Philippines, he is survived by wife Pequina,, son Bernie, daughter Jane Taylor, sister Vicenta, and two grandchildren. Service: 7 p.m. Friday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call after 6 p.m. Mass: 9:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Anthony's Church in Kalihi. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples.
Louis "Captain Luke" Lucas, 82, of Kaunakakai, a retired U.S. naval aviator and Aloha Airlines pilot with 42 years of service, died Thursday in Kaiser Hospital. Born in Pasadena, Calif., he is survived by wife Patricia Ann; stepdaughter Linda Schritter; brothers Charles and Phillip; sisters Pat Worthing, Cecelia Holtzmann and Teresa Lucas; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Memorial service: 2 p.m. Thursday at the Pearl Harbor Naval Chapel, Naval Station Pearl Harbor. Services will also be held on Molokai at a later date. Aloha attire. No flowers. Donations suggested to the Blessed Damien Building Fund, c/o St. Sophia's, Kaunakakai, Molokai, Hawaii 96748.
Rozela M. Purugganan, 93, of Waikapu, Maui, died Friday in Hale Makua, Kahului. Born in Siquijor, the Philippines, she is survived by sons Raymond and Frank; daughters Phyllis Kahaukawila, Clara Cole, Ann Gottmers and Gloria Yamaguchi; brothers Istanislao and Gabriel Magsayo, and Wanito Bisxitasxon; 21 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Service: 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at St. Anthony Church in Wailuku. Wake: 6-9 p.m. Mass: 10 a.m. Thursday at the church. Call after 9 a.m. Entombment: Maui Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Billy J. Thompson, 64, of Mililani, a retired U.S. Army pilot and lieutenant at the Oahu Community Correctional Center, died last Tuesday in Wahiawa General Hospital. Born in Hot Springs, Ark., he is survived by wife Saeko; sons James and Robert; daughters Carolyn McCormick and Linda Butler; brother Jimmy; and seven grandchildren. Service: 11 a.m. Thursday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call after 10 a.m. Burial: Hawaii Veterans Cemetery, Kaneohe. Aloha attire.
Deaths Elsewhere
Hirohisa "Danny" Iida, former leader of the now-defunct popular band "Paradise King," died of acute renal failure early yesterday at a Tokyo hospital, his family said. Iida was 65.Paradise King debuted in 1956 as a Hawaiian song band and later took up mainstream pop, producing such hit songs as "Kanashiki Rokujussai" (The Sad 60s), "Sutekina Taimingu" (Good Timing) and "Sherry."
The band was instrumental in nurturing late singer Kyu Sakamoto, known as the singer of the blockbuster "Ueomuitearuko" (Sukiyaki).
You can also search the Hawaii State Library System's
Hawaii Newspaper Index online for older obituaries at:
http://www.hcc.hawaii.edu/education/hcc/library/hiindex.html
The index, which goes back several decades,
is available via Telnet software.