DAVID ARTHUR LERPS Colonel David Arthur Lerps, USMC (RET), died on October 21, 2014 after a long and valiant struggle with Parkinson's disease. Born in Chicago, Illinois on June 28, 1931, he spent his early years in Eastchester, New York and was an honors graduate of Duke University where he was Commandant of the Naval Battalion and participated in every sport, winning distinction as quarterback of the 1954 Blue Demons Football Team. His flight training at NAS Pensacola prepared him for many years in the Marine Air Wing. During his 30 year military career, he served three tours in Japan and flew 312 missions in Vietnam in 1968, where he was awarded 23 Air Medals and nominated for a Distinguished Flying Cross for valor in an especially dangerous mission to the DMZ. He later served in strategic planning at the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, DC, was both student and teacher at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces while gaining his MBA at George Washington University. He concluded his active duty as Chief of Staff, LFTC Pacific Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado. Upon retiring from active duty in 1984, he was appointed Chief of Staff at the Academy of the Pacific, a post he held for 18 years. After retiring from AOP, he became a student once again, studying Shakespeare and music at The University of Hawaii. He was a board member of Hawaii Opera Theater and member of the Hawaii Wagner Society. He was an ardent ocean canoe paddler, a board member of the Lanikai Canoe Club and coordinator of the Duke Kahanamoku Long Distance Canoe Race for four years. Even with the decline in mobility, and speech, and loss of the ability to swallow, he never lost his love for opera, sports, for his family, Catholic faith and Marine Corps. As life-long friend John Schwarz wrote, "Dave never really left the Corps..'once a Marine always a Marine...' He was "SEMPER FI" a Marine to his final breath!" Dave is survived by Mary, his wife of 55 years, his children Kathy Lerps, Karen Pittman, Robert Lerps, six grandchildren: Vito and Dylan Higgins, Ashley Snow, Amber Lerps, Kylie and Kassidy Barker; and a sister Ann Falkenberg and brother Kurt Lerps. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. John Vianney Church in Kailua in January 2015 followed by interment of his ashes in the National Military Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. Donations are suggested to the Michael J. fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
SU CHON KIM A second-generation Korean- American, Su Chon was born in Waipahu and brought up in Honolulu, where she graduated from both the Saint Andrew's Priory School for Girls and the University of Hawaii. For many years, she was a teacher at the Ala Wai Elementary School, where she was a beloved friend to many of her students and to many of her fellow teachers. Su Chon was also the much-beloved and admired mother to three children - Glenn, Michael and Susan. She will be sorely missed by all who were lucky enough to know and love her.
OWEN SOY HUNG LOUI Owen Soy Hung Loui, 103, passed away on August 3, 2014. He was born on May 5, 1911 in Honolulu, to Koon Chan and Leong Shee Loui, the sixth of nine children. He grew up in Nuuanu and Kaimuki, attended Lili'uokalani School, and graduated from McKinley High School in 1929. Foregoing college to help his family, he worked as a bookkeeper, then accountant for 19 years, gaining experience at Young, Lamberton and Pearson, CPAs. In 1946, while taking a CPA review course in New York, he met his future wife, Marjorie, a Columbia U graduate student from Sacramento, CA. He opened his own accounting firm, Owen Loui and Co., CPAs in 1948. He was elected president of the Hawaii Society of CPAs in 1966-1967. He and Marjorie had 6 children and were married for 50 years. He is survived by his children; Peter (Lorraine Ota), Jacqueline (Steve Spielman), Elizabeth (Russell Tom), Katherine (Neal Akamine), and Paul (Masanna Sy) of California; grand- children Christine, Sarah, Matthew, Tyler, and Madeline Loui, Elysse and Kaitlyn Tom, and sisters Mildred and Lucille Louis. He was an avid sportsman, playing on the Chinese Amateurs baseball team in the 1930s. He became a Hawaii top-ranked tennis player, coaching mens tennis at the UH in the 1930s and 40s. He also coached in the Kahala Little League. As a teenager he started caddying at Waialae Golf Course when it opened in 1927, joined the Longwood Golf Club, and was an Ala Wai Golf Course regular. Playing golf almost daily into his 90's, he walked the course and carried his golf bag. It was his favorite pastime. He was an avid reader and enjoyed working in his yard. He was preceded in death by his wife Marjorie in 2001, son Timothy in 2004, sisters Berthie, Rose, Helen, and Lillian Louis, and brothers James and Leighton Louis. A private graveside service was held at Diamond Head Memorial Park on November 1. Condolences and remembrances may be sent to 940 Noio Street, Honolulu, HI. 96816, or www.forevermissed.com or emailed to louio001@hawaii.rr.com. Donations can be made in his memory to a favorite local charity.
AILEEN HATSUKO CHUN of Pearl City, passed away on October 9, 2014. Born July 13, 1943 in Honolulu, she was raised in Hilo and was married to Joseph W.L. Chun (deceased) for 41 years. She is survived by daughters Joleen Chun and Cherilyn (Michael) Evangelista, brother Burton (Carol) Tomita, granddog Kika, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was a retired medical office administrator, and enjoyed her golden years with the Guang Zhong Chinese Music Club, See Dai Doo Society, cultivating her orchids, baking and spoiling her granddog. A celebration of her life will be held at Hosoi Garden Mortuary on Monday, November 3, 2014 at 6:30 pm. Visitation at 5:30 pm. No flowers, please. Casual attire.
EMILIO MEL BAPTISTA DIAZ Age 88, of Ewa Beach, passed away at home on October 16, 2014. Mr. Diaz suffered a stroke on October 1. He was born May 22, 1926 in Batac, Ilocos Norte, Philippines to Norberto and Juanita Diaz. Mr. Diaz was married to the late Realonda Pagdilao Diaz. He is survived by daughter, Myrna-Lyn (Peter) Abang; by son, Norbert Michael; grand- children Stephen and Michael (of Oregon), and Emily-Rae (of Arizona); siblings Resurreccion Diaz (Fortunato) Pecpec, Victor (Fermina) Diaz, Clarita (Dominador) Diaz, Peregrina (Francisco) Diaz, Juan (Victoria Diaz) Sarian, Helen (Andres) Pagdilao and Socorra (Artemio) Pagdilao; many nieces and nephews. Mr. Diaz was retired from the U.S. Army with 22 years of service, the U.S. Army Officers Club restaurant system, and as manager of the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Restaurant. He attended and received an A.S. degree from Leeward Community College, was a member of the Ewa Community Church, the Badoc-Pinili Association, the Wednesday Senior Bowling League at Barbers Point, honored as a 100+ pint donor at the Blood Bank of Hawaii, and the Ewa Plantation Singers as their male chaperone. Visitation 5:30 p.m., Thursday (Nov. 6) at Mililani Mortuary Mauka Chapel. Funeral Service 6:30 p.m. Inurnment 10:30 a.m., Saturday (Nov. 8) at Mililani Memorial Park, Waipio. The family requests that you wear your favorite blue-color attire.
DIONICIA TACING ATUELAN GALDIANO Age 76, of Pearl City, passed away October 20, 2014 in Pearl City. Born October 9, 1938 in Batac, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. Retired from Outrigger Hotels. She is survived by husband, Melchor Galdiano; sons, Rogelio "Roger" (Marivic) Galdiano, Jeremias (Sherliza) Galdiano of CA; daughter, Noralyn (Dut Nguyen) Galdiano of FL; brothers, Patricio (Seniang) Atuelan of P.I., Pedro (Dominga) Atuelan of Canada, Aniano (Velma) Atuelan of P.I.; sister, Apolonia Atuelan of P.I.; 6 grandchildren. Visitation 6:00 p.m. Wednesday 11/5 at Mililani Downtown Mortuary, Service 6:30 p.m. Visitation also 8:00 a.m. Thursday 11/6 at Mililani Downtown Mortuary, Service 9:30 a.m. Burial 11:00 a.m. at Valley of the Temples.