Furukawa, Myrtle Natsuye (Tanaka) Obituary

Furukawa, Myrtle Natsuye (Tanaka) attended Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove, CA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Furukawa, Myrtle Natsuye (tanaka).

Graduation Year	Class of 1940
Date of Passing	Jun 20, 2011
About	Born May 18, 1922 and raised in Florin, California, she helped on the family grape and strawberry farm before and after school. She enjoyed playing basketball on the Florin Bluettes. Shortly after graduating from Elk Grove High School, the evacuation order came. For the next three years the family was forced to move 4 times from one concentration camp to another. Upon returning from camp, she left for San Francisco to attend Hazmore School of Dresss, graduating after 18 months. In 1948 she met her future husband George, tying the knot on March 19, 1949. After a brief stay in Cleveland, Ohio, they returned to California in 1951 and she became an active member at the Buddhist Church of Florin, being a teacher for over 25 years. She was the co-founder of the Florin Japanese Language School, teaching for 34 years. She received numerous awards and recognition throughout her lifetime for her leadership in the Japanese community. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, watching the Sacramento Kings and San Francisco Giants, and doing gardening. She unexpextedly entered Nirvana at home. Preceeded in death by here parents Tomokichi and Sekiyo Tanaka, husband George, brothers George and Wilbert. Survived by son Randy Furukawa (Cindy), daughter Ailene Nishida (John), grandchildren Shinchan, Erik, and Kiyumi, sisters Myrna Hitomi and Teri Miz usaka (William). Friends and family were invited to the memorial service held on Monday, June 27, 2011 at 3:30pm at the Buddhist Church of Florin, 7235 Pritchard Road, Florin, California with a reception to follow. - Information from the Sacramento Bee