Kinya
"Ken" Watanabe (Poston 15-2-C) was the eldest child born to
Japanese immigrant farming parents, Shusaburo and Tamano (Tanabe)
Watanabe on November 2, 1920 in Holtville, California. His parents had immigrated to the U.S. in
1918 and farmed around the Calexico area in California for a few years. The
Watanabe family moved to Arizona after Yoshiko
was born. After high school, Ken worked as a farm laborer.
In February of 1942, the Watanabe family
members: Shusaburo, Tamano, Ken, Yoshiko, Gen, and Kenny were
forcibly evacuated from their home to the Mayer, Arizona Assembly Center. After several months, they were transferred
to the Poston, Arizona concentration camp (15-2-C) on June 2, 1942. His
brother Gen left the Poston camp on October 14, 1942 and stayed in Phoenix.
Kinya left the camp on November 18, 1943 and joined his brother in Phoenix. His
father left Poston on March 29, 1945 and headed to Glendale, Arizona. Ken's mother
and brother, Kenny left the Poston camp on
February 22, 1945 and joined their family members in Phoenix.
Ken entered military service on September
29, 1944 and served in the U.S. Army.
Ken farmed at Watanabe's Flower Garden in
Phoenix until his retirement. He died on October 7, 2008 in Mesa, Arizona. He was preceded in death by his father, Shusaburo
(2/7/1883); mother, Tamano (7/16/1893)
He is survived by his wife of 35 years Aiko;
sister Yo; and brothers Gene and Kenny
Watanabe.
Source: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/azcentral/obituary.aspx?n=kinya-watanabe-ken&pid=119139783&fhid=6532#fbLoggedOut
