Our Condolences to the Okumura Family

Hachiro "Huch" Okumura
Hachiro "Huch" Okumura 05/22/38 ~ 04/05/09 Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend left us suddenly surrounded by his loving family on Sun., April 5, 2009 due to medical complications. The eighth of nine children, Huch was born May 22, 1938 in Venice, California to Hiroji and Sumiye Okumura. He married Carolyn Reiko Miya October 1960, divorced May 1979. They raised three children together. He married JoAnn Birkeland in December 1997. As best friends, constant companions and deeply in love, they shared many adventures exploring the world. Huch retired from the wholesale food industry and lived his retirement dream. He was proud of his Japanese heritage and his family was the center of his life. His days were spent traveling the globe with his wife, including a trip to the Manzanar Relocation Camp where his family had been interned during World War II; creating artwork for display in his home; hanging out with his dog Maya; bowling with family and friends; spending quality time with his grandchildren; watching TV, especially the Food Network where he acquired his new cooking hobby; and napping...usually more than once a day. When asked what he'd like people to remember about him, his response, "That I've listened to a different drummer than most of my family. I'm a little more offbeat than the rest, but that I lived my life fully and I don't have any regrets." Survived by his wife JoAnn; children Kelli (Jeannie Rees), Wade and Pam Gerrard (Neil); bonus children Wendee Eldredge (Nicole) and Shelly Faust (Jason); grandchildren Chance, Brittani, Cole, Porter and Channing; brothers Yuji, Sub (Cookie) and Dennis (Connie); sisters Ayako Kamoto, Fusa Nakayu (Kiyo) and Tets Aramaki; brother-in-law Taira Fukushima; sisters-in-law Mary and Shigeko Fukushima; and many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents; brother Ichi; sister Nobie Fukushima; sister-in-law Kiyo; brothers-in-law Jack Aramaki, Kay Kamoto and Tad Fukushima. Huch, Dad, Daddy-O, Papa Huch, Grampa Huchy, Grampy, Hachi, Uncle Huch...you touched our lives in such wonderful ways, we love you so much and miss you more than you could have ever imagined. Memorial services will be held at the Murray Memorial, 5850 S. 900 E., on Friday, April 10 at noon. Family and friends may visit one hour prior to services. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your favorite charity.

Bowler Shoots 899 with the New Roto-Grip Cell

AJ Calderon had no idea when he purchased a Cell Pearl that he would have the chance of a lifetime on Monday night.  AJ, who was bowling in the Monday Night Scratch Classic at Wagon Wheel lanes, shot his 15th and 16th career 300 games to sit at 600 after 2 games.  He then proceeded to roll 11 more strikes to close in on the coveted 900 series.  Needing only 1 more strike for bowling immortality AJ calmly stepped up to the line.  "I threw a good ball and thought I had done it," commented Calderon.  With many bowlers standing by, hoping to see history, AJ left a ringing 10 for an near perfect 899.  AJ not only set a house record with the Cell Pearl but also set the Oxnard City record.  "I got the ball because I have a tendency to leave a lot of 10 pins.  I told Jeff (Massey) that I wanted something that had a little sharper backend and he recommended the Cell Pearl," said AJ.  "I only got the ball 2 weeks ago, and have only used it 3 times." he said. The 899 series beat's Calderon's previous high set of 837.

Roger Noordhoek
Vice President
Business Development
Roto Grip, Inc.