Obituaries

Friday, January 9, 1998

---

Edwin Thomas, 88,
founded ‘Big 88’ stores

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

Edwin N. Thomas, Hawaii businessman known for his “Big 88” surplus stores and a philanthropist, died Sunday in Kaneohe. He was 88.

In recent years, he donated time and effort to charitable activities, including the Edwin Thomas Home shelter, 41 S. Beretania St., donating $550,000 for its purchase.

He also started the Thomas Foundation, later renamed the Nova Foundation, to benefit victims of Alzheimer’s disease.

“He always had a soft spot in his heart for people who were afflicted with disease or hardship,” said grandson Randall Worsley. “He always had a saying, ‘There but for the grace of God go I,’ ” Worsley said. “He wanted to give back to the community that helped him become successful.”

Born in Craigmont, Idaho, Thomas spent his childhood in Lewiston, Idaho, moving to the San Francisco area with his mother as a teen-ager.

He later attended the University of Southern California to study pharmacy. But his mother became ill, and he left USC to find employment first in a bank and later as an office manager for John Hancock Insurance Co.

He met his future wife, Buhla Issacson, in that job and ultimately moved up to manage the Northern California office for John Hancock. His Bay Area experience also included time as a representative of Hearst Publishing Co.

After a visit by an uncle at the end of World War II, Thomas became interested in moving to Hawaii. He took the first ship to the islands after the war and was intrigued by the beautiful mountains and warm welcome at Aloha Tower. He decided to move his family to Hawaii and returned with his wife and daughter in April 1946.

He started Mid Pacific Distributors in Hawaii to represent U.S. manufacturers but was quick to see opportunities in marketing war surplus material. He opened a warehouse-type outlet named the Surplus Center with a full-page newspaper ad that said “WAR DECLARED on prices.”

The grand opening was a huge success, and Thomas opened more surplus outlets throughout Hawaii. He eventually opened the “Big 88” stores on Oahu and Kauai and branched out into imports. With later growth in tourism, he continued to import and also turned to real estate.

He developed the Thomas Trade Center in Honolulu, now the Dillingham Trade Center, and also expanded this operation to Kaunakakai, Molokai. His trading activities led him to Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan, where his company -- Pacific Thomas Corp. -- continues to trade.

He is survived by daughter V. Jill Worsley; three grandsons; and one great-grandson.

Memorial services will be held at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nuuanu-Lanakila Chapel, 622 N. Judd St. Burial will follow at 3 p.m. in Valley of the Temples.

---

Eugenio V. Belez, 84, of Lanai City, Lanai, a laborer, died Tuesday in Lanai Community Hospital. Born in the Philippines, he is survived by wife Ida. Services: 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at Sacred Hearts Church. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Lanai Cemetery. Aloha attire.

Eufemio D. Bocoboc, 87, of Honolulu died Saturday. Born in the Philippines, he is survived by wife Consolacion; son Eufemio Jr.; daughters Cynthia Bocoboc and Mariecon Armstrong; brother Agustin; and sisters Magdalena Mamuad and Maria Piedad. Services: 7 p.m. Sunday at Diamond Head Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: noon Monday at Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace. Call after 11 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples.

Flaviano M. Daquep, 88, of Honolulu died Dec. 30 in Queen’s Hospital. Born in Batac, Ilocos Norte, the Philippines, he is survived by son Onofre; daughters Anastacia Antonio, Aniceta Lim, Nenita Abitong and Felicitas Paulino; sister Crispina Butay; 10 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. Services: 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Oahu Cemetery. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.

Melba M. Ishii, 71, of Honolulu died Sunday in St. Francis Hospital. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by sons Drs. Dexter K. and Erick K. Memorial services: 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Call after 6 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.

Eddie A.C. Ko, 53, of Nanakuli, a truck driver for PCI Associated, died Dec. 29 in Nanakuli. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Wanda P.; sons Eddie Jr., Earl and Elden; daughter Jan Bale; brother Leong Jr.; sisters Eileen Rosa, Helen Marasco and Irene Morgan; and nine grandchildren. Services: 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Nanakuli Homestead Cemetery. Aloha attire.

Ambrocio A. Lacamiento, 76, of Waipahu, retired from Gem’s Store in Waipahu, died Dec. 27 in Las Vegas. Born in Pinili, Ilocos Norte, the Philippines, he is survived by wife Rosalina A.; sons Simplicio, Zaldy, Roger and Samuel; daughters Nenilia Eugenio, Elidia Areola, Remedios Brown, Margie La Rue and Nora Lacamiento; sister Ludivina Academia; and 20 grandchildren. Wake services: 7 p.m. Sunday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 9:45 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Church. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Wah K. Low, 62, of Honolulu, a cook with New Campbell Chinese Restaurant, died Jan. 1 at home. Born in Canton, China, he is survived by wife Wai Kwon and sons Danny and William. Taoist services: 10 a.m.-noon Sunday, Borthwick Mortuary. Burial: Valley of the Temples.

Juinchi C. Matsuda, also known as Clarence K. Uaiwa,77, of Honolulu died Dec. 31 in Straub Hospital. Born in Hana, Maui, he is survived by wife Hiroko; sons Clarence Manjiu and Alika and Kaala Matsuda; daughters Barbaralyn Harada and Ora-Lee Hilea; brothers Lawrence “Jusuke” and Edwin “Take”; sisters Katherine “Ane” Matsuda, Martha Goo and Doris Matsuda-Saromines; and four grandchildren. Services: 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Nuuanu Memorial Park Mortuary. Call from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Casual attire.

Janna E. Okamoto, 12, of Hilo, a seventh-grade student at Waiakea Intermediate School, died Tuesday in Hilo Hospital. Born in Hilo, she is survived by parents Raymond and Linda, brother Matthew, paternal grandfather Yoshio and maternal grandmother Mitsue “May” Yoza. Services: 2:30 p.m. Sunday at New Hope Christian Fellowship. Call after 1 p.m. Casual attire.

Zeno C. Orso, 69, of Makaha died Dec. 16 in Queen’s Hospital. Born in Lihue, he is survived by daughters Zena Kennedy and Jeannie Copecky; brother Purvis P. Orso; sisters Marion Wilder and Wisa D’Orso; and two grandchildren. Services: 5 p.m. Sunday at Makaha Beach.

Walter H. Skierkowski, 57, of Kailua, a retired Vietnam-era Marine lieutenant colonel, died Dec. 7 in Phoenix. He was also the principal deputy director of Defense Finance and Accounting Service at Pearl Harbor. Born in Michigan City, Ind., he is survived by wife Carole, daughter Stephanie, son David, mother Meg, brother Paul and a granddaughter. Mass: 10 a.m. tomorrow at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Kailua. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. Aloha attire. Donations suggested to Walter H. Skierkowski Memorial Fund, LAOI, Immuno Therapy Lab, Dr. Charles Wiseman, 201 South Alvarado St., Los Angeles, CA. 90057.

George M. Talbott, 78, of Hilo, a retired Army officer, died Wednesday in Queen’s Hospital. Born in Portsmouth, Va., he is survived by wife Dorothy K., sons Jefferson and James, daughter Barbara, five grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Memorial services: 7 p.m. tomorrow at New Hope Christian Fellowship The Gathering Place. Call after 6 p.m.

Kazuko “Kay” Tanaka, 65, of Waipahu died Dec. 29 in Hale Pulama Mau. Born in Nagoya, Japan, she is survived by daughters Linda Y. Fishel, Lynette Y. Tanaka and Mari Page; brother Jiro Asai; sisters Teruko Shibuya and Fukiko Watanabe; and three grandchildren. Services: 4 p.m. Sunday at Makiki Christian Church. Casual attire. No flowers.

James Terada, 90, of Lawai, Kauai was a retired general manager and co-founder of Garden Island Mortuary Ltd. Additional information for an obituary Wednesday provided by the mortuary.

Delfin S. Vehemente, 85, of Honolulu is also survived by children Delfin S. and Caroline M. Vehemente and Ophelia M. Stringfield. Incorrect information for an obituary Tuesday provided by the mortuary.

Gwendolyn F. Phillips,89, of Pahoa, Hawaii, a retired bookkeeper, died Dec. 29 in Hilo Hospital. Born in Illinois, she is survived by nephew Don Beasley and niece Denyse L. Temple. No memorial services.