James Kumiyama Sanchez (Usa Ret.)

James Kumiyama Sanchez was born in Inarajan, Guam November 14, 1939 to Vicente Q. (a teacher and later a decorated WWII sailor), and Margarita K. Sanchez, passing from this earth May 24, 2023.  James was the oldest son of 8 children.  James and his parents lived on Guam during the Japanese occupation during WWII, moving to Long Beach after the liberation where his father, a Navy Bosun's mate was stationed.  James enlisted first in the US Air Force during the Vietnam War, later to rejoin the service in the US Army retiring as a Master Sergeant.  In between the two he served as a US Postal Inspector for the Postal Service, leaving only after a successful investigation that apprehended the criminals but in which his partner died in the gunfight. During all this time he was raising his family and earning his degree from Compton College, having graduated from the Postal Inspector's Academy, the US Air Force Non-Commissioned Officers School, and the vaunted US Army Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Academy.

James met the love of his life Eleanor while an airman in Long Beach, California in 1963.  He told her the first night that he met her he would marry her, and proved himself right on September 12, 1964. James and Eleanor raised five children, Margaret, James V., Anthony, Vicente and Theresa, and saw their family grow with their sons and daughters in law Ioelu (Jr), Gillian, Lizza, and Dave, their grandchildren Joel, Angelina and Rithy, Ariana and Matt, Miranda and Corey, Anthony Jr, Carl, Benny, Vanessa, Vicente Jr., great-grandchildren Isaiah, Alana, and Lavinia, and by his grandson who he raised as his son, Aaron, who watched over James and Eleanor until their final passing.

James was most proud of his family, achieving his education, and his service to his country.  He was never seen without his wedding ring, his class ring, or his US Army ball cap.  James was preceded to God's Glory by Eleanor only 23 days earlier.  James was also preceded by his daughter Margaret and his grandson Joshua James.  James and Eleanor drew no distinction between his children or their spouses, his grandchildren or step-grandchildren, to the two of them, all were their own.

James is survived by his family including his many nephews and nieces and their own children, his sisters Catherine Paulino, Mariquita "Kita" and Jim Mott, and Theresa Ripple, Nora Sanches, Jeanine Sanchez,  and their families, and will rejoin not only his parents, wife, daughter and grandson, but his brothers Frank, Joaquin "Junior", Benny, and Joseph Sanchez.