EDWARD "EDDIE" NOBORU INOUYE

"Eddie," as he was affectionately known to his family, friends, and loved ones, passed away peacefully at the age of 84, on March 25, 2018, surrounded by his loving family at the St. Francis Hospice home in Nuuanu.

Eddie was born on January 17, 1934, in Kapaia, Lihue, Kauai to Sadaji and Shie Inouye, who migrated from Kumamoto Ken No Tamanagun Mizonoue, Japan, and he was the youngest of 8 children.

He attended Lihue Grammar School, and graduated from Kauai High School, Class of 1952, where he was fondly known as "One Yard" by his classmates. He was a Cub Scout and Boy Scout in his younger years, and played sumo and barefoot football in Lihue Plantation.

Immediately after graduating from high school, he served in the United States Army. His basic training was at Schofield Barracks, then he went on to train in the Medical Corp at Fort Sam Houston in Texas, and Madigan Army Medical Center at Fort Lewis in Washington. After Eddie completed his training, he was stationed in Japan for two years, where he had a chance to meet his relatives in Kumamoto and throughout Japan.

After his service in the Army, Eddie attended the University of Washington and the Northwest Institute of Medical Technology in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he graduated in Medical Lab and X-ray Technology.

Upon his graduation from college, Eddie returned to Kauai and met the lovely Edith Oshima at a picnic which a few of his friends were having. Eddie and Edith were married three years later. She was the love of his life, and their relationship was filled with not only love, but total admiration and the utmost respect for one another. They did everything together. Although they both drove, they chose to ride into town together, dropping each other off in the morning, and picking each other up after work. They truly enjoyed being with one another, spending time together, even ballroom dancing together. Eddie was a chivalrous, loving, and devoted husband, and they recently celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary together.

Eddie was always a hard worker. His first job after technical school was at the Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital, then he and Edith moved to Oahu where he worked at Leeward Hospital. Eddie then worked at Fronk Clinic for 8 years, then at Straub Clinic and Hospital, where he retired after 33 years as a Senior Nuclear Medicine Technologist. In addition to his full time job, he also worked part-time at Queen’s Medical Center, Kuakini Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente, and Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children during various times in his life.

His interests included swimming, running and physical fitness. He was an avid runner, and Eddie would run home frequently, from Straub Clinic and Hospital to Aiea after work. He participated in and finished four Honolulu Marathons in 1978, 1980, 1984, and 1992, with his fastest time being 3:30:19. He also enjoyed competing in Tin Man relays with his friends and co-workers, and participating in strength and endurance competitions. During his latter years, Eddie enjoyed watching golf, football, and was a fan of all University of Hawaii sports. He looked forward to Obon season and would go to the various bon dances around the island with his family every weekend. As disciplined as Eddie was, an indulgence he had was drinking hot sake or having a cold Primo beer. Never speaking an unkind word about anyone, Eddie always made time to help others, help out at church on the weekends, all while he kept his home and yard well maintained.

Eddie lead a simple life. He never complained, and was a loving and dedicated family man, who always sacrificed, provided, protected, and spent quality time with his family. He was a selfless person, and was concerned about his family up to the very end.

Eddie is preceded in death by his parents, Sadaji and Shie (Maemura) Inouye; older brothers, Kazuyoshi "Tommy" Inouye, Yoshito "Stanley" Inouye, Masao "Toby" Inouye, Takao Inouye, Yukio "Richard" Inouye; and older sisters, Kimiko Fujii, and Yoshie Kubota.

Eddie is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Edith; and loving family including daughters, Carolyn (Alan) Nakamura, Cindy Inouye; granddaughter, Courtney Wago; many nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and grand nephews.

Although his time at the St. Francis Hospice home in Nuuanu was brief, a heartfelt thank you and deepest appreciation goes to Theresa, Michelle, and the rest of the wonderful and caring staff there.

We are truly grateful, blessed, and proud to have had Eddie in our lives. It was an honor and a privilege to be a caregiver for him during the last few years of his life. Not only was he a loving Husband, Dad, and Grandpa, but he was also a humble and kind man full of integrity, honesty, determination, strength, generosity, and a noble man who was an inspirational role model and mentor. The man who we miss dearly, and whose memory will live on in our hearts forever, until we meet again.

Words alone cannot express how grateful we are for the outpouring of love, condolences, sympathy, support, thoughts and prayers, kind words, and beautiful floral arrangements received during our bereavement.

Private funeral services and inurnment were held at the National Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl with Military honors.

Arrangements Provided By: Hosoi Garden Mortuary