Editor’s note: Obituaries are published free of charge as a public service. The content is subject to editing to ensure parity treatment and style continuity. Date of publication cannot be guaranteed. Memorial advertisements may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.
Sonoko Welborn
Sonoko Tsutazawa Welborn, 78, of Volcano, died Jan. 8, 2019, at home. Born Oct. 7, 1940, in Japan, she was a retired translator.
Survived by son, Ken (Stephanie Chun) Welborn of Honolulu; and brother, Kiyotaka Tsutazawa of Tokyo.
Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary Hilo.
Rudy Kawahara
Rudy Haruo Kawahara, 95 of Volcano, died Ja. 21, 2019 at home. Born June 19, 1923, in Honolulu, he was a retired commercial graphic artist in Chicago and a World War II MIS veteran.
No services. Ashes to be interred at future date at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, Calif., and Kawahara family crypt at Moiliili Cemetery in Honolulu.
Rudy is survived by four nieces and three nephews; and caregiver/family friend Dawn Shibano of Volcano.
Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary Hilo.
Douglas Connor
Douglas James Connor, 59, of Waikoloa, died Jan. 18, 2019, at his home. Born April 27, 1959, he was a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. He worked at various hotels in Maui and Big Island as a pastry chef and had a passion for surfing.
He is survived by his mother, Lorraine Conner of S. Easton, Massachusetts; brother, Kevin (Elizabeth) Connor of Block Island, Rhode Island; sister, Kerry (Brad) Connor King of Bridgewater, Massachusetts; two nieces and one nephew.
Private services will be held.
Online condolences may be posted on www.ballardfamilymortuaries.com.
Services provided by Ballard Family Mortuary-Kona.
Loretta Barro
Loretta Barro, 82, of Kamuela, and formerly of Naalehu, died Jan. 15, 2019, at the North Hawaii Community Hospital. She was born in Kukuihaele and was a homemaker, cashier for the former Naalehu Pick &Pay Market and was a member of the Naalehu Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Naalehu Senior Center.
Visitation 8:30-9:30 a.m. Feb. 2 at the Naalehu Sacred Heart Catholic Church for a 10 a.m. Mass. Burial will follow at the Naalehu Community Cemetery. Casual attire.
She is survived by her husband, Phillip Barro of Kamuela; sons, Stewart Barro of Hilo and Anthony “Masay” Barro of Naalehu; daughters, Debbie Gacayan of Las Vegas and Liane (Willy) Barro-Kilmede of Kamuela; nine grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; nieces &nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Hilo
Emmeline Foster
Emmeline Keala Foster, 83, of Hilo, died Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Born April 23, 1935, in Hilo.
Visitation will be held 10-11 a.m. Feb. 1 at The Salvation Army – Hilo Temple Corps; fellowship service at 11 a.m. followed with a lunch reception and burial at Alae Cemetery at 4 p.m. Aloha attire.
She is survived by, children, Gerald R. (Sandra) Santiago of Hawaii, Jane R. (George) Cortez of Hawaii, Shirley A.L. (Richard) Tavares of Hawaii, Jonathan K. Santiago of Hawaii, Rachel S.L. Wentworth of Seattle, Washington, Ben F.N. Santiago of Eugene, Oregon and Fred A. Santiago of Anchorage, Alaska; sister, Lydia Haena; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Hilo Branch.