Kaoru "Bill" Honda Passes

Kaoru “Bill” Honda, 94, of Santa Barbara, California, died peacefully on Sunday, April 17, after a brief illness.

Mr. Honda was a leader in Lompoc’s pre-World War II Japanese-American community.  He was coach of Lompoc’s championship girls basketball squad and organized many other athletic teams. He was an officer of the local chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League and chaired its inaugural meeting in August of 1941. In December 1941 he wrote to the Lompoc Record to make a "public statement of our faith in, and loyalty to, the United States" on behalf of the Japanese Society of the Presbyterian Church. 

A clerk and bookkeeper at the Iwamoto Store, he took part in the car caravan to Keetley, Utah when the Japanese-American community was ordered away from coastal California in March 1942.

Recently he was a key participant in recapturing the history of the Nikkei community in Lompoc. He is pictured on this website with two of the players from the girls team.

He was born December 8, 1916, in Lompoc, the son of Senmatsu and Sumi Yura Honda, who worked for Burpee Seed Company. He was the oldest of three brothers. He graduated from Lompoc High in 1934. From 1942 to 1959, Bill lived in Utah where he was married to Lucille Kawate in 1954. They relocated to Santa Barbara in 1959. Bill retired from the U.S. Postal Service after 32 years of dedicated service.

He was a very avid walker, bowler and softball player well into his 80s and early 90s. In 1997, Kaoru was inducted into the Japanese American National Bowling Association Hall of Fame.

He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Lucille; sons Clifford of Canoga Park, CA; David and wife Cindy of Vail, CO; Paul and wife Marie of Diamond Bar, CA; and Mark and wife Marian of Bothell, WA; grandchildren Davey, Katy, William, Natalie and Daniel; and many nephews, nieces and good friends.

A memorial service will held at 12:00 pm on Thursday, April 28 at Bethany Congregational Church,

556 North Hope Avenue, Santa Barbara

, CA. Family and friends are welcome with a reception immediately following from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

Donations in Kaoru’s memory may be made to Bethany Congregational Church or a charitable organization of your choice.