Sumiko Phillips

1930 - 2015

ENON — Sumiko Kawasaki Phillips, 84, passed away peacefully at her home in Enon, Ohio, surrounded by her loving family, on Monday, January 26, 2015. Sumiko was born on December 10, 1930, in Okinawa, Japan. She was the daughter of Saburo Itokazu and Yasu Kawasaki (Itokazu). She had two brothers, Seigo Kawasaki (Akiko) and Mitsuo Kawasaki, and two sisters, Setsuko Tokuyama (Seitoku) and Fujiko Kyan (Hideo). She was the beloved wife, companion, and friend to her husband of 62 years, Tom Pete Phillips; devoted mother of Nelda Phillips Burd (James), Judith Phillips Campbell (Richard), Tom Pete Phillips, Jr. (Karen), Barbara Phillips (Derek Ernest), and Christa Phillips Czyzak; loving grandmother to Desere' (George), Jennifer (Jon), Christopher, Nicholas (Sheena), Drew, Ryan (Michelle), Joshua, Alyssa, and Colin; and proud great-grandmother of Ellie, Makenzie, Makayla, George, Alexander, Charlotte, Isabelle, and Everett. She also leaves behind numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Seigo, and sister Setsuko. Sumiko was a kind, loving, and generous soul. She always looked for the good in people and served as an inspiration and positive role model for her family and friends. She was a member of Byron Church and the Ladies Guild, enjoyed participating in the Okinawa Tomonokai of Ohio, and loved to bowl in the Kittyhawk Military Wives Bowling League. She especially cherished her many friends from Okinawa and Japan. Sumiko was a loving and hardworking mother to her five children as they lived in Okinawa, North Carolina, Montana, Texas, New York, and Ohio during her husband's service in the Air Force. She was an accomplished seamstress and cook, and loved playing piano, gardening and ikebana (Japanese flower arranging). She loved to share flowers, fruits and vegetables with friends and family from her beautiful gardens, and she never missed an opportunity to see a grandchild's sporting event, play, or recital. A devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and aunt, Sumiko leaves a legacy of love to family, friends and all who knew her. Friends will be received at Belton-Stroup Funeral Home, 422 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Rd., Fairborn, from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday January 28, 2015. A funeral service will be held on Thursday January 29, 2015 at 10:30 A.M. at Byron Church, 3230 Trebein Rd., Fairborn, Pastor H. Wesley Barnhill officiating. Burial will follow in the Byron Cemetery. The family extends a heartfelt thank you to Shirley Ernest for her loving support and care for Sumiko during her hospice care. Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to the American Cancer Society. Condolences may be made to the family at www.BeltonStroup.com.