Henry Shoichiro Yasuda, 96 of Monterey Park passed away peacefully on June 29, 2025. Born in Pasadena in 1928, he was the eldest of six children to Seiichi and Tsuru Yasuda. Raised in Mesa, Arizona as a young boy, he was sent at age 10 to live with grandparents in Kaminoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.

He returned to the U.S. in 1948 and earned a business degree from UC Berkeley, where he met his wife, Helen Inouye. Drafted in 1953, he served as a bilingual U.S. Army Intelligence Officer in Korea and Japan. He later spent a decade as a civil servant with the Department of Defense, supporting military operations across Asia during postwar reconstruction.

In 1964, Henry returned to California to oversee the family grocery business, eventually co-founding Tom-sons Markets with his father and brothers. Over 26 years, they built a successful chain grounded in integrity, hard work, and family unity.

After retiring at 60, Henry became a dedicated volunteer at Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple, Nanka Yamaguchi Kenjinkai, and a bilingual docent at the Japanese American National Museum. In 1999, Henry and Helen were honored as "Parents of the Year," from the Nikkei Parents' Day Festival, and in 2004, they were awarded the National Excellence in Parenting Award from the National Parents Day Council — the first Japanese Americans to receive this distinction.

He is survived by his loving family: wife of 71 years, Helen Yasuda; their five children; Dr. Patrice (Rick Wannomae) Yasuda, Jan (Rob) Mitoma, Dr. Tom (Barbara) Yasuda, Margaret Yasuda
Ricky (Jane) Yasuda; ten grandchildren, Hallie, Kira and Lukas Yasuda, Alex and Annie Mitoma, Nicole and Chet Oshima, Ryan, Sam, and Jason Yasuda

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 9, at 11:00AM at Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple, 505 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90013.