Sam Yamamoto

Sam O. Yamamoto

Sam Osamu Yamamoto, age 78 of Clearfield, Utah, passed away peacefully, Sunday evening, August 23, 2015 at McKay-Dee Hospital due to complications of COPD and Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Sam was born September 23, 1936 to Kiyoshi and Namiye (Uchimura) Yamamoto in Ogden, Utah.  He had five brothers and three sisters who all worked together on the family farm until they were grown.  He played baseball and wrestled during high school, graduating from Davis High in 1955.  Sam served in the United States Army Reserves, where he earned the rank of Staff Sergeant and was honorably discharged February 8, 1962.  On April 13, 1963, he married the love of his life, Sharron Sachiko Shimada, at the Ogden Buddhist Church.  They lived in Syracuse and Layton before moving to Clearfield where they decided to live out their days.  Sam was a carpenter early in life, building residential houses for many years.  He later moved on to manufacturing bowling balls at Faball, located in Freeport Center, Clearfield, Utah until they closed.  He then worked in the Davis Lanes Pro-shop, where he drilled bowling balls, sold merchandise and instructed bowlers on how to improve their game.

Sam enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, and taking care of his yard.  His passion, however, was for the sport of bowling.  He liked participating in the sport, but ultimately, it was helping others understand the game better that made him happy.  Coaching his grandchildren and other youth bowlers was his greatest source of enjoyment.  He was inducted into the Bowling Hall of Fame February 16, 2008.

Sam was preceded in death by his wife, his parents and two brothers, Tadashi and Shigeru.  He is survived by his children, Todd (Theresa), Lori (Jeff), and Kevin (Natalie); 10 grandchildren (with one on the way), seven great-grandchildren; three brothers, Stom, Rusty, and Glenn; three sisters, Martha, Yoshiko, and Mary.

Services will be held Monday, August 31, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road.  Friends may visit with the family from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. following the services.