HONDA, KOICHI VICTOR passed away on Feb. 13 at the age of 89 in Walnut Creek, Calif. He was born in Portland, Ore. on July 10, 1922. During WWII, Victor met his wife, Violet, while being interned at Tule Lake Internment Camp. After the war was over, they settled down in Walnut Creek, where they raised their family. Victor is survived by his three sons, Kenneth (Jane Arellano), Dennis (Yoko) and Jerry, daughter-in-law, Dina, along with grandchildren, Penny (Andrew Aramaki), Lori, Kevin, Kyle and Nikki. He is also survived by his sister, Shizuko Honda (Tadashi), of Fukushima, Japan, and sister-in-law, Irene Shiga, of Walnut Creek. He was preceded in death by his wife, Violet and daughter, Keiko.

Victor built a successful gardening-landscaping business in the early 1950s, until his retirement in 1986. He mentored many young aspiring gardening professionals who had emigrated from Japan, hoping to continue the tradition of Japanese gardening. He was a passionate supporter and active leader during the early inception of the Diablo Japanese-American Religious & Cultural Center in Concord, and devoted member of the Berkeley Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple. He was also a member of the Hokka Fukushima Nikkeijin Kai.

Until his final days, he remained active and staunchly independent while residing in Rossmoor Residential community. His kindness and thoughtfulness to family and close friends will be dearly missed. A memorial service was held on Feb. 26. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Victor’s memory to the Diablo Japanese American Religious & Cultural Center at 3165 Treat Blvd., Concord, CA 94518 or Berkeley Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple at 1524 Oregon St., Berkeley, CA 94703.

He will be buried at Oakmont Memorial Park in Lafayette, Calif., alongside his wife and daughter.