Misao Doi

1923 - 2015

1923 ~ 2015
Salt Lake City, Utah-Misao "Charlie" Doi, age 91, passed away on February 24, 2015 at the Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center surrounded by family, due to pneumonia and respiratory failure. Dad was born on July 2, 1923, the youngest of five children to Sekizo and Masayo Hatada Doi. He graduated from West High School in 1941 where he was a member of both the varsity basketball and tennis teams.
During WWII, he served in the U.S. Army's 100th Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team (RCT). Dad was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal, Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. He was very proud to have served his country.
On August 21, 1945 he took Elsie Wakiko Matsuda off her family farm and they were married at the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple.
Dad worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 31 years, retiring in 1989. He started as a clerk, worked in the motor pool and even sorted mail on a night train that went from Salt Lake to Butte, Montana (which required him to carry an armed weapon).
Dad was an avid reader and couch potato for sports. He loved driving his motorcycle but over the years found very few takers that would ride with him. He finally gave up his snowblower and lawn mower at the age of 87. His interests included golfing, bowling and taking son, Richard and nephews,Juddy and Steven, to the Bonneville Salt Flats for Speed Week. He was a member of the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple.
He is survived by wife Elsie of 69 years, son Richard (Lynne), daughters Karen (Sam) Evans, and Charlene; three granddaughters Shelley (Chris) Taketa, Elizabeth (Andrew) Hayes, and Jamie (Tuckett) Slade; three great grandchildren Jackie, Miya, and Maxwell, and future baby boy, Cory Richard; sister Chiyoko Terashima, brother lchiro (Takeko) Doi, sister-in-law Ruby and many wonderful nieces and nephews who enriched his life over the years. Preceded in death by brother, George and sister, Haruye.
Our heartfelt appreciation to the Dept. of Veterans Affairs for their excellent care.
A service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers or koden,contributions may be made to the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, 500 Foothill Blvd., Salt lake City, UT 84148, or a charity of your choice.