Roy Taketa

Roy Gosaku Taketa

November 13, 1923 ~ February 8, 2015

Roy Gosaku Taketa passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on February 8, 2015.  Roy was born on November 13, 1923 in North Puyallup, Washington to Kurahachi Taketa and Kura Akahoshi.  Roy’s academic career was extraordinary in its diversity.  He began at North Puyallup Elementary School when he was five years old and followed up through the eighth grade at Sumner Junior High.  He then continued his schooling in Kumamoto, Japan.  As he progressed through his junior year in high school he directly advanced into Tokyo Merchant Marine Academy which he graduated as a Marine Engineer in 1945.  Later he received a Class A Chief Engineer License from the Japanese Government.  After he returned to the United States, he continued his studies at Weber State College in Ogden, Utah obtaining a B.S. Degree in Mathematics and then a M.S. Degree in Engineering Administration at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah.

While in Japan, Roy worked for a merchant marine company which had a contract with the U.S. Navy.  Being bilingual Roy was in demand all the time.  After returning to the United States, Roy was employed by Southern Pacific Railroad and later for the U.S. Air Force at Hill Air Force Base until he retired as a section chief in software engineering.

Roy was a member of Phi Kappa Phi National Academic Fraternity.  He was a black belt in Judo and was a member of the varsity judo team at the academy.  Later he was an instructor at Ogden Judo Dojo.  Roy excelled in many sports and he loved them all. He claimed golf was the most difficult.  However, he had three holes in one at Hill Air Force Base Golf Course and shot his first round of age shooting when he was 74 years old and his last when he was 84 at the Hubbard Golf Course at Hill AFB.  He was also an avid fan of the New York Yankees.  He fulfilled his lifelong dream of attending games at the old Yankee Stadium and celebrating his 80 ^th birthday.

On May 20, 1953 Roy married Ayako Miyashiro in Kumamoto, Japan and lived in Yokohama.  In 1958 Roy, Ayako and their two children came to the U.S. and made Ogden their home.  They later made their home in South Ogden in 1973.

Surviving are his wife, one son, Jim Yoshizumi (Melissa) Taketa, Jacksonville, Florida; daughters, Chieko (Edward) Coleman, Layton, Utah; and Jeanne Chikako (Richard) Evans, Pleasant View, Utah; also grandchildren, Jordan Coleman, Joel Coleman, Kori Core (Brandon), Katie (Kelly) Carver, Kelsey (Noah) Lattin; also four great-granddaughters, Maiya Coleman, D’Kala Warden, Adison Carver, and Emi Lattin.  Also surviving are many nephews and nieces in the U.S. and Japan.  Preceded in death by his mother, father, and three sisters, Yachiye Taketa, Kazuye Hattori, Yukiye Omori, and great-grandson, Kai Coleman Core.

Roy was a member of the Ogden Buddhist Temple and made many friends throughout his life.

The family sincerely thanks the staff at Applegate HomeCare and Hospice, especially Heather and Liz, for their unselfish and continuous care, kindness, and support while Roy was under homecare and hospice.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 13, 2015 at 2 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd.  Friends may visit with family on Thursday, February 12th from 6 to 8 p.m. and Friday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the mortuary.