The social organization of aviators "remembers what a good, gentle person he was," said Willie Schauer, a retired Air Force fighter pilot. "He was a soft-spoken man, very conscious of others' feelings and situations around him."
Kay, 69, who flew for several companies in Hawaii and Guam for 50 years, died Thursday in Wahiawa General Hospital.
Kay was best known for a 16-month interruption in his flying career, a period near the end of the Vietnam War when he was held as a prisoner of war by Communists in Laos. A civilian pilot, he was captured in May 1973 after his small Porter aircraft was shot down by ground fire. Kay was flying for Continental Air Service, which ferried supplies and people to CIA-backed operations near the Vietnam border in Laos even after the United States had entered into a ceasefire with North Vietnam.
His imprisonment in limestone caves affected his health ever afterward, said son Kimo Kay. "He tried to get medical help but was denied by the government. He was a civilian, he fell through the cracks."
Schauer said: "When he came back, he was quite bitter about the capture and his treatment by the United States after his release."
The government did not compensate him or acknowledge him as a prisoner of war. Years later, however, the Special Services Association recognized him as an associate member of the group.
Kay had organized a Guam air-taxi service, Micronesian Airlines, in 1965. After his release in 1975 and an unsuccessful run at the state Legislature, he piloted commercial flights in the Marianas islands for nearly 10 years.
Born on Oahu, Kay also flew for Soar Hawaii, Aloha Airlines, Sky Tours Hawaii and Andrew Flying Service. He was a World War II veteran.
Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Friday at Oahu Cemetery. Burial will be at 1 p.m. in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl.
He is survived by wife Florence; son Kimo; daughter Puanani; sisters Clara Osorio and Anna Camp bell; brothers William Kay and Ian Holt; and a granddaughter.
Akai, 86, was born in Kailua, Maui. She is survived by sons Harold A. and Gerald P.; daughter Phyllis J. Takara; sisters Taneyo Okazaki and Margaret Tamura; and six grandchildren.
Call: 1 p.m. May 5 at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.
Lucy C. Arruda of Waimea, Kauai, died May 2 in the Kauai Care Center.
Arruda, 83, was born in Waialua. She is survived by sons Clarence and Joaquin; daughter Lucille; 10 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
Mass: 10 a.m. May 8 at Sacred Hearts Catholic Church in Waimea, Kauai. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Lihue Cemetery.
Edward L. Benito of Waipahu, a Hawaii International Movers employee who also coached varsity football and basketball at Aiea, Pearl City and Waipahu high schools, died May 1 in Hospice Hawaii.
Benito, 42, was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Pearlie A.; sons Elden E., Christopher C., Austen A. and Seve S.; mother Hilaria B.; brothers Felix and George; and sisters Frances Kanuha, Erlinda Tolentino and Arinia Pekelo.
Wake: 7 p.m. May 7 at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Call after 6 p.m. Mass: 10:30 a.m. May 8 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 94-675 Farrington Highway. Call after 9:30 a.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.
Richard E. Ellswick of Ewa Beach died April 30 in Tripler Hospital.
Ellswick, 64, was born in Ironton, Ohio. He is survived by wife Teruyo; sons Richard E. Jr. and William H.; sister Ruby Burgess; and two grandchildren.
Service: 7 p.m. May 6 at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio makai chapel. Call after 6 p.m. Burial: 11 a.m. May 7 at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery, Kaneohe.
Janet L. Garcia of Aiea, secretary for the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Boating Division, died April 26 in Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi.
Garcia, 63, was born in Honolulu. She is survived by husband Joseph D.; sons Joseph T., Kevin D. and Jon K.; daughters Carla L. Rolison, Wanda M. Makishima, Melisa G. Preuss and Terza J. Garcia; sisters Violet McMinn and Bernadette Nicholson; brothers Robert, Ernesto and Harold Laranang, and Mark Rios; and seven grandchildren.
Memorial Mass: 9 a.m. May 8 at St. Elizabeth Church. Services: 7:15 p.m. May 8 at Kawaiahao Church, call after 6 p.m.; and 10 a.m. May 9 at Kawaiahao Church, call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery, Kaneohe. Aloha attire.
Fulgencio F. Guzman of Ewa Beach died last April 27 in St. Francis-West Hospital.
Guzman, 87, was born in Sinait, Ilocos Sur, the Philippines. He is survived by sons Pedro, Feliciano and Dionicio; brother Santiago; sisters Maria Guzman and Esmenia Basuel; 15 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Rosary: 7 p.m. May 6 at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio mauka chapel. Call after 6 p.m. Mass: 9:30 a.m. May 7 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 91-1004 North Road. Call after 9:15 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Susumu "Blue" Harada of Wainiha, Kauai, a retired executive chef for Keauhou Beach Hotel, died last April 27 in Wilcox Hospital.
Harada, 72, was born in Waimea, Kauai. He is survived by wife Viola; sons Wayne and Stuart; daughters Aileen, Lorraine and Pauline; stepsons Bito and Togo Hermosura; stepdaughters Joan Nuhi, Stella Pacatang and Marsha Hermosura; hanai son Shawne Doiron; hanai daughters Linda Maka and Vicky Yokotake; brothers Allen, Paul, Takeshi, Kikuo, Takayuki and Glenn; sisters Masa Neptune, Fumiko Hashimoto and Carolyn Nakamura; 18 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Service: 2 p.m. May 8 at St. Williams Catholic Church in Hanalei, Kauai. Call after 1 p.m.
Merle L. Hiroshige of Honolulu, a United Airlines cargo salesperson, died April 30 in Kuakini Hospital.
Hiroshige, 49, was born in Honolulu. She is survived by husband Edwin M. "Eddie"; son Brandon T.; daughters Kristine S. and Brittany K.; mother Mary L. Wong; brother Marvin L. Wong; and sisters Liane Furukawa and Lorraine Ah Choy.
Memorial service: 6:30 p.m. May 8 at Nuuanu Memorial Park Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.
Sarah K.K. Marrotte of Mililani, a lei seller at the airport who went under the name Aunty Emi, died April 25 in Wahiawa General Hospital.
Marrotte, 74, was born in Honolulu. She is survived by husband Lawrence P.; sons Dennis P. and Larry K.; hanai son Kumalae Matthews; daughters Gwendolyn J. Marrotte and Geraldine Hawk; 25 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Wake: 7 p.m. May 5 at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio mauka chapel. Call after 6 p.m. Service: 10:30 a.m. May 6 at the mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial to follow. Casual attire.
Grace E. Sera of Waialua died May 1 in Wahiawa General Hospital.
Sera, 67, was born in Honolulu. She is survived by husband Katsumi; son Kenneth K.; daughter Iris H.; father Kiyoto Wada; brothers Thomas H., Stanley S., Henry T. and Robert S. Wada; and sister Dorothy C. Tenn.
Memorial service: 6:30 p.m. May 7 at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio mauka chapel. Casual attire. No flowers.
George K. Shimizu of Honolulu, retired proprietor and owner of Beach Market Grocery Store, died April 29 in Kuakini Hospital.
Shimizu, 68, was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Lily H.; sons Steven S., Brian Y., Craig T. and Dale R.; daughter Carrie A.; brothers Richard H., Larry M. and Eugene T.; sister Mary S. Kinoshita; and eight grandchildren.
Memorial service: 6 p.m. May 8 at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.
Larry S. Teruya of Waipahu, a retired carpenter foreman, died April 29 at home.
Teruya, 78, was born in Kailua, Maui. He is survived by wife Jean S.; daughter Patricia R.; brother Jack; and sister Yasuko Nakasone.
Memorial service: 6 p.m. May 6 at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.
Evangeline L.K. Yamashiro of Honolulu, a Sears Roebuck and Co. clerk, died April 30 in Kaiser Hospital.
Yamashiro, 60, was born in Honolulu. She is survived by husband the Rev. David T.; sons David T. Jr. and Daniel K.M.; daughters Deva L.A. and Iolani K.; sisters Priscilla Ebisuya and Florence Sakamoto; and four grandchildren.
Service: 6:30 p.m. May 8 at Kalihi Union Church, 2214 N. King St. Burial: 10 a.m. May 9 at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery, Kaneohe.
She is survived by sons Paul, Ross, Joseph and Douglas; daughters Joy Apo, Kuulei Reyes, Evelyn Chong and Bonnie Naluai; brothers Walter and Judah Kawaa; sister Virginia Stewart, 23 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. Service: 10 a.m. Thursday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Borthwick Mortuary-Norman's and after 9 a.m. Thursday at the church. Burial: Maui Memorial Park.
Dorothy R. Bakerof Sea Pines, Hilton Head Island, S.C., a longtime Hawaii resident, died Friday after a long illness. Baker, 76, was born in Hawaii. She had careers as an interior designer and model, appearing in Town and Country magazine in the 1940s. Baker was a life member of Daughters of Hawaii and Daughters of the British Empire.
She is survived by husband George T. Baker; sons Emile de Planque III and Thomas W. Wood, brother Ulrich J. Rainalter Jr. and six grandchildren. Services: Memorial tomorrow in Hilton Head Island, S.C. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Salvation Army.
Grace Y. Bell of Hilo, a retired schoolteacher for the former Waiakea Kai and Kapiolani Elementary schools, died April 27 at home. Bell, 88, was born in Honolulu.
She is survived by husband Alexander K. and sons Arthur K. and Alexander K. Jr. No services.
Sara Cottle of Honolulu died yesterday Friday in Aiea. Cottle, 93, was born in Ireland.
She is survived by son Robert M. McNamara, seven grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. No services.
Cecilia J. Cravalho of Texas, formerly of Hawaii, died April 11 at home. Cravalho, 72, is survived by daughters Celia Richardson and Lisa Bowers; sons Lawrence, Robert, Charles and Jason; sisters Katherine Huddleston and Lucy Anderson; brothers Searaphin and Abel Jacintho, 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Services were on the mainland.
Michael D. Datisman of Wailuku, a retiree in the advertising field who also was an author, satirist and photographer, died April 14 in Maui Memorial Hospital. Datisman, 57, winner of several awards for print and TV advertising, was born in Gary, Ind. Datisman is survived by sisters Lucia Datisman and Mary Frisbie. Services will be held later.
Mary K. "Lei" Davis of Honolulu died Tuesday at home. Davis, 78, was born in Honolulu.
She is survived by sons Dean and Roy; sister Loraine Kam, 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Service: 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Diamond Head Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples. Casual attire.
Helen C. Fulton of Honolulu died Wednesday in Queen's Hospi tal. Fulton, 90, was born in Indiana.
She is survived by sister Jane Wantland. Memorial service: 11 a.m. Thursday at the Community Church of Honolulu, 2345 Nuuanu Ave.
Noboru Kaneko of Mililani, a retired exterminator for Terminix Termite Co., died April 28 in Kuakini Hospital. Kaneko, 89, was born in Kilauea, Kauai.
He is survived by brother Sueto Migita. Private services.
Masako Kawamura of Honolulu died April 28 in Honolulu.
Kawamura, 90, was born in Japan.
She is survived by sons Kodo and Koshun, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Private services.
Sylvia H. Kirkpatrick of Kalaoa, Hawaii, a retired California schoolteacher, died Tuesday in Kona Community Hospital. Kirkpatrick, 89, was born in Orono, Maine.
She is survived by daughter Ruth Record, brother Lawrence Hogan and sisters Ruth Baker, Regina Hogan and Mildred Foley. Private services.
Chiyoko Kitsuki of Kahului died April 27 in Maui Memorial Hospital. Kitsuki, 73, was born in Puunene, Maui.
She is survived by son Patrick; daughters Lynne Leisy and Jill Kitsuki; brothers Tsu and Kazu Yamanishi; sisters Ruth Kanda and Jennie Seno, and three grandchildren. Private services.
Harry K. Kuala of Honolulu died April 28 in Honolulu. Kuala, 74, was born in Honolulu.
He is survived by son Joseph "Marty"; brother Robert, two grandchildren and a great-grandchild. No services. Donations may be made to Hospice Hawaii.
Yoneichi Kurano of Honolulu died last Monday in Kaiser Hospital. Kurano, 88, was born in Honolulu.
He is survived by wife Sumiko; sons David and Peter; sisters Flora Y. Kawashima and Klara K. Kurano, and two grandchildren. Private services.
Alfredo R. Layugan of Haliimaile, Maui, died last Monday in Queen's Hospital. Layugan, 71, was born in the Philippines.
He is survived by wife Maria; son Rodolfo; daughters Cresencia L. Bumanglag, Emilia Paz and Beatriz Fabro; son Felipe; a brother; five sisters, 16 grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Services: 7:30 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday at Borthwick Mortuary-Norman's; call after 6 p.m. Friday and after 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Burial: Valley Isle Memorial Park.
Albert K.Y. Lee of Honolulu, a retired Board of Water Supply executive assistant and U.S. Air Force Reserve lieutenant colonel, died Thursday. Lee, 77, was born in Honolulu.
He is survived by daughters Linda Lee, Laurie Bell and Lisa Reed; brothers Kim Tet and George; sisters Margaret Lau and Alyce Lo, and five grandchildren. Service: 10 a.m. Thursday at Nuuanu Memorial Park Mortuary. Inurnment: Nuuanu Memorial Park. Casual attire.
James D. Moore of Tucson, Ariz, formerly of Hawaii, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, died April 28 in Tucson, Ariz. Moore, 74, was born in Ryland, Ala.
He is survived by wife Dagmar M.; sons Malcolm A. and Brian A.; sisters Thelma Gray and Sarah Sanders, and a grandson. Services will be held on the mainland. No flowers. Donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 5325 E. Pima, Tucson, Ariz. 85712.
Rey Nakamura of Honolulu, a retired sales representative for Otis Elevator Co., died April 27 in Kuakini Hospital. Nakamura, 80, was born in Honolulu.
He is survived by wife Bertha M.; son Rey Jr.; daughters Iris Kajikawa and Susan Nakamura-Koge; sister Nellie Hino, and 10 grandchildren. Private services.
Harry T. Nakatsuka of Omao, Kauai, an Okinawa government retiree, died Monday in Omao, Kauai. Nakatsuka, 79, was born in Kekaha, Kauai.
He is survived by sister Mitsuko Roe and brother Isamu. Services were held.
William A. Parsons of Kihei, Maui, died Tuesday at home. Parsons, 93, was born in Ripley, W. Va.
He is survived by daughter Virginia P. Wright and five grandchildren. Private services.
Beatrice S. Prigge of Lihue, a retired Wilcox Memorial Hospital clerk, died Monday in Wilcox Hospital. Prigge, 78, was born in Lihue.
She is survived by daughters Betty Lou Severson, Patricia Ann Ichida and Carol Duarte; son Dr. Emil Jr.; brother Tadami Naito; sister Betty Matsuda, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Service: 11 a.m. Saturday at All Saints Episcopal Church in Kapaa, Kauai. Call after 10 a.m. Private burial. Aloha attire.
Virginia "Jeannie" K. Serania of Honolulu died Friday in Kuakini Hospital. Serania, 69, was born in Kona.
She is survived by husband Herbert L. Serania; mother Connie C. Burns; son Lonnie P. Canete; daughters Carlene L. Myers, Priscilla M. Kalbrener and Lita Canete; stepsons Roland Serania and Darren Asuncion; stepdaughters Lavern Hoskins, Maxine Fields, Sandra Sandere and Sharon Asuncion, 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Services: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Oahu Cemetery Chapel, 2162 Nuuanu Ave. Call after 6 p.m. Cremation will follow services. Casual attire. No flowers.
Janice Williams of Nanakuli died April 29 at her home. Williams, 34, was born in Honolulu.
She is survived by husband Edward Williams; mother Ethel Vierra; sons Kawike and Joshua Ollero and Richard Pontin; daughter, Lisa Pontin; brothers, Edward, Ernest, Joseph and Peter Vierra; sisters Shirlyn Pontin, Geraldine Smith, Merrie Ann Stone, Laura Kekino, Madeline Kukahiko, Cheryl Pratt Nishikata and Donna, Elizabeth and Winone Vierra, and a granddaughter. Services: 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at St. Rita Church, 89-318 Farrington Highway. Call after 8:30 a.m.