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In memory of

Yoshiko Kōbōdō Ponton

Eugene, OR

January 28, 1935 - January 27, 2023

Jan 28, 1935 - Jan 27, 2023

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Yoshiko Kōbōdō Ponton loved being alive. Led by her irrepressible spirit, she forged her own path from her birthplace in Kure, Hiroshima, Japan where she was born to Giichi and Tatsuko Kōbōdō on January 28, 1935, the fifth of seven children, to Eugene, Oregon where she passed away on January 27, 2023, ensconced in the love of friends and family.

A self-described wild child, Yoshiko recalled fond memories of her childhood even during wartime; of being the ringleader of the neighborhood kids, being evacuated to the countryside with her beloved siblings and of biting into sweet juicy tomatoes picked fresh from the vine.

Coming of age during postwar Japan, she loved dance halls and the cinema, often playing hooky from school to go watch an American film. In the mid 1950's, she would meet and later marry American Seabee Bill Ponton even under threat of disownment. After a few years, she was welcomed back into her family along with Bill who became everyone’s favorite!

Yoshiko had a certain trust and courage when it came to life and did not shrink away from a challenge.

Whether it was leaving Japan in the 1960’s (possibly for good) to live in Gulfport MS while Bill served in Vietnam or facing a late stage lung cancer diagnosis in her 80’s, her resolve was to live life head on with courage and optimism. She always said that once she made a decision, she never looked back. She was always "all in."

Yoshiko was an extremely stylish dresser, a great bowler, a sharp hanafuda player, and a generous hostess who loved feeding people tempura and tonkatsu. She loved animals and children, flower arranging, calligraphy, cool cars, disco dancing, and music with “a good beat”.

Her parting words to her daughter were, “Life is challenge. You don’t know what tomorrow will bring. That’s what makes life fun!”

She was predeceased by her husband, William E. Ponton, siblings Kaori Kaneda, Satoe Murase, Takashi Kōbōdō , Katsuto Kōbōdō and niece, Kumiko Hashimoto.

She is survived by her brother Kenji and his wife Yoko Kōbōdō , her sister Hisako Kōbōdō , her niece Kiyoko and her husband Kazukio Yoshida and daughter Claudia and son-in-law Benjamin Terrell and her grand dog Buckley.