Tomiko ("Tomi") Yamamoto was born in Seattle, WA and passed away peacefully in Los Angeles on February 21, 2017 at age 94.  Tomiko was preceded in death by her husband, Ikuo, and daughter, Risa Lynn Yamamoto.  She is survived by her loving family; children, Nina Y. (John R. Phillips) Yamamoto, Thomas I. Yamamoto, and Laura M. Yamamoto; grandchildren, Elliot A.Y. Phillips, and Nora Y. and Edward I. Burrows, both of Virginia; and beloved toy poodle, Chieko; also survived by nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Tomiko and her family were relocated to the Minidoka, Idaho internment camp during World War II.  She left to attend college and in 1947 she graduated with a B.S. degree from Milwaukee-Downer College in Wisconsin where she studied to be an occupational therapist and also studied art.  Tomiko met her husband, Ikuo, in Wisconsin and they were married in Los Angeles in 1948. Tomiko was a devoted mother and was a housewife when her four children were young.  She was a talented baker and seamstress.  After raising her children, she worked for a few years as an elementary school teacher for the LAUSD in Carson, California, and a real estate broker in the South Bay.  In about 1982 Tomiko and her husband, Ikuo, moved to Seattle to be closer to her two sisters and brother, and they returned to live in Manhattan Beach to be near their children in about 1993.

Tomiko's hobbies included yoga, skiing, traveling and water color painting. She also volunteered   at the local library.  She enjoyed visiting with friends, children, grandchildren, and other relatives.

Tomiko was a kind, generous, and friendly person, who will be greatly missed.

Private services were held on Saturday, March 18th at Green Hills Memorial Park Chapel with Rev. Dr. Hidemi Ito (retired) of Faith United Methodist Church officiating.  In lieu of flowers the family respectfully requests donations to the National Parkinson Foundation or the Japanese American National Museum.