Francis Tetsuro Nakamura

Francis Tetsuro Nakamura Mr. Nakamura, age 78, went to be with the Lord Monday, June 23, 2008, in Monroe, NC, at the home of his daughter Angie Lail and her husband Don, who cared for him after he became ill with colon cancer in December of 2006. He was born on July 7, 1929, in Pulehu, Maui, Hawaii and grew up in Maui. He is survived by his wife, Alice Nakamura; daughters, Angie Lail (Don) and Bet Smith; sons Fred Varney (Gayle), Donny Nakamura (Susie), and Ronnie Nakamura; 10 grandchildren; Marie Spain, Sandra Varney, Jessicah Nakamura, Wade Smith, Kerin Henry, Stephenie Smith, Daniel Nakamura, Michael Nakamura, John Lail and Kristin Lail; and 3 great grandchildren, Caleb, Jacob, and Tyler; and 2 brothers, Donald and Jimmy. He was predeceased by his parents, Hanjiro and Yoshimi Nakamura, a brother, Kazu Nakamura, and an infant grandson Wade Smith Jr. Mr. Nakamura will be greatly missed by his family and all those who were blessed to know him. He was best known for his kind, gentle ways and always did more for others than for himself. Mr. Nakamura held an electronic engineering degree from the RCA Institute in New York. He served as assistant chief engineer at WSOC-TV and retired in 1995 after 34 years. Mr. Nakamura was a Christian and attended several Baptist churches during his life, where he sang in the choir, served as a deacon, and ran the sound systems. Mr. Nakamura was very involved with ham radio (WB4ETF), and in 1972 was one of the founding members of the W4CQ Charlotte Amateur Radio Club. He worked to assist victims of many disasters, such as earthquakes. He loved working at the many radio club events he helped organize. The family would like to thank the Union County Hospice unit for their wonderful care and support, and for everyone's prayers, concerns, and well wishes during Mr. Nakamura's long illness. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 28 at Gordon Funeral and Cremation Service, 1904 Lancaster Avenue, Monroe NC 28112, followed by a family visitation. Online condolences may be made at www.gordonfuneralservice.com. Gordon Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for the Nakamura family. Published in Charlotte Observer on June 26, 2008.