Hitoshi Ed Nagata was born on May 2, 1915 in
Sanger, California to Saichi and Tamaji Nagata.
He was raised in Dinuba, California and graduated from Dinuba Joint
Union High School in 1934. He placed second in a long jump competition at a
Tulare County High School Track Meet and played organized baseball with other
Japanese Americans of the Central Valley. In 1941, he married Masuko Lily Abe and
they lived on his farm in Kingsburg, California.
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| Ed Nagata |
On August 4, 1942, he and his wife were
evacuated from their home along with other people of Japanese ancestry in the
area and imprisoned at the Poston, Arizona concentration camp 3. They lived at block 305 barrack 13, apartment H. On March 30, 1943, he departed with his
pregnant wife for work in the military designated “free” zone in Marsing, Idaho.
There, he helped raise and harvest sugar beets and their first child was born.
After the war, two more children were born and raised in Kingsburg.
He successfully farmed peaches, watermelons,
cantaloupes, cotton and grapes in Kingsburg, California for over 80 years.
He attended many spectator sports, including the numerous West Coast Relays, and
midget/car races in Fresno. He was an
avid San Francisco Giants and Fresno State Bulldogs fan. He encouraged
his children to participate in sports that built character and teamwork. He
enjoyed his family members who participated in football, basketball, baseball
and swimming. Ed was proud of his college educated children and grandchildren
in their accomplishments. He loved fishing and digging for clams at Pismo Beach,
California. He traveled with his wife six times to Japan, Seattle, Washington to
Mexico, Disneyland, Hawaii, North Carolina, and Oregon.
He served on the Kings River Elementary School
Board of Trustees for 19 years and held various administrative positions at
Palm United Methodist Church and the Japanese-American Citizen League in Tulare
County.
Ed Nagata, long-time resident of Kingsburg, California, died on November 8, 20017 at the age of 102 years, He is predeceased by his wife Lily ( 2010); brothers: Stanley Nagata, Gordon Nagata; and sisters, Mallie (Nagata) Hanada, Lydia (Nagata) Shiba, and Lilyan (Nagata) Kiyomoto.
He is survived by his youngest sister, Amy (Nagata) Akaishi
of New York; children: Ronald (Margaret) Nagata of San Jose, CA, Gerald Nagata
of Kingsburg, CA, and Valerie (Colin) Kageyama of San Jose, CA; grandchildren: Robyn
(Rand) Ide, and Blayne (Heidi) Nagata of Hawaii, Kristyn (Noah) Jacobson, and
Kelly Kageyama of San Jose, CA; Corrine (Luiska) Nagata-Varela and Shelley Nagata of Daly City, CA; and great
grandchildren: Jase and Cole Ide, Zachary and Tyler Kimura-Nagata, Mariana
Jarquin, and Christine Varela.Ed Nagata, long-time resident of Kingsburg, California, died on November 8, 20017 at the age of 102 years, He is predeceased by his wife Lily ( 2010); brothers: Stanley Nagata, Gordon Nagata; and sisters, Mallie (Nagata) Hanada, Lydia (Nagata) Shiba, and Lilyan (Nagata) Kiyomoto.
