Obituaries: 11-26-16

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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.

Yoshinori Ota

Yoshinori Ota, 87, of Hilo, died Oct. 31, 2016, at his residence. Born in Hilo, he was a retired heavy equipment mechanic for the former Hilo Coast Processing Co. and a member of the Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin.

Private services were held. The family requests no flowers and no koden (monetary gifts).

He is survived by daughters, Cheryl (Lyle) Takeuchi and Wanda (Neil) Nakamura, both of Honolulu; sons, Darren (Lisa) Ota of Los Alamitos, Calif., and Darrell Ota of Hilo; brother, Yoshiyuki (Sandy) Ota of Hilo; sister-in-law, Lorna Ota of Waipahu; six grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Curtis Kealoha

Curtis Kealakai Kealoha, 69, of Honolulu died Nov. 10, 2016, of Honolulu. Born Sept. 19, 1947, in Honolulu, he was a retired power plant operator for the former Hamakua Sugar Plantation, an Army veteran of the Vietnam war, Life member Military Order of the Purple Heart, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 1 and Vietnam Veteran of American Chapter 858.

Visitation is planned from 10-11 a.m. Nov. 29 at Dodo Mortuary chapel with an 11 a.m. celebration of life. Casual attire; flowers and lei are welcomed. Burial is scheduled at noon at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2.

He is survived by sons, Dayton (Brandy) Kealoha of Bremerton, Wash., Brandon Kealoha of Hilo; daughter, Leenette Kealoha of Hilo; brothers, Llewellyln Kealoha of Las Vegas, Roland Kealoha of Honolulu; sisters, Claudia Valencia of Arizona, Jocelyn Kealoha of Honolulu, Jo-Anne Kauahikaua of Washington, Gwen Awa of Haleiwa, Oahu, Ernestine (Brian) Kaauomo of Maui; numerous grandchildren; numerous uncles, aunts, nephews and nieces.

Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Robert Dempsey

Robert Lawrence Dempsey, 43, of Kailua-Kona died Nov. 20, 2016, in Kealakekua. Born May 19, 1973, in Lakewood, Calif., he was a mechanic and welder with Cyanotech.

Services may be scheduled at a later date. Donations may be made to American Heart Association. Condolences may be posted at ballardfamilymortuaries.com.

He is survived by spouse, Gayla; son, Robert Dempsey Jr.; daughter, Taylor Dempsey of Kailua-Kona; parents, Robert and Chung-Cha Dempsey of Kailua-Kona.

Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary-Kona.

Melvin Hamilton

Melvin “Garth” Hamilton, 89, of Waikoloa died Nov. 20, 2016, at his residence. Born Aug. 31, 1927, in Spalding, Saskatchewan, Canada, he was a retired finishing carpenter, member of the Waikoloa Men’s Golf Club and past president of the Royal Canadian Legion in Chase, British Columbia.

Service information to be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to North Hawaii Hospice, 65-1328 Kawaihae Road, Kamuela, HI96743.

He is survived by wife, Audrey Hamilton of Waikoloa; daughters, Shelley (Ron) Sanders of Merritt, Canada, Dale (Greg Dare) Hamilton-Dare of Hope Island, Australia; sons, Colin (Joanne) Hamilton of Langley, Canada, Greg (Linda) Hamilton of Calgary, Canada; nine grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.