Wilmer Kenchi "Bill" Furuta

1942 - 2014

Furuta Wilmer Kenchi "Bill" Furuta, M.D., passed away Monday, March 31, 2014, while in the care of his wife, Juanita and son, Alexander, after a four year battle with cancer. Bill was born on November 21, 1942 in Poston, Arizona in an internment camp set up for Japanese Americans during World War II. He is preceded in death by his parents Ichiro and Amy Furuta. Bill's family, along with four other Japanese families, settle in Columbus following the end of the war and were among the founding families who organized the Japanese American Club, an organization dedicated to the blending of American and Japanese culture. Bill attended Indianola Jr. High School and North High School, where he published research in the National Institute of Health during his senior year. He continued his education at The Ohio State University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Anatomy, and was a member of Alpha Epsilon Delta, pre-medical honorary, and received his M. D. in 1968, elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, Medical Honorary. Bill completed his adult, child, and adolescent psychiatric fellowships from 1968-1972, and received a Master of Science degree in medicine from the Ohio State University. Between 1972-1974, Bill was Chief of Psychiatry and Neurology at Fort Hood Texas, United States Army, during the Vietnam War. He then returned to Columbus to become Executive Medical Director for the Diocesan Child Guidance Center until 1985. Bill was a psychiatric consultant to various mental health facilities in Central Ohio prior to opening up Central Ohio Counseling in Worthington, Ohio where he practiced medicine until February, 2014. Patients and his loyal staff were his primary concerns. His dedication and long years of service to his field was reflected in the enormous amount of cards, letters and phone calls he received prior to his death. He is survived by his wife of almost 50 years, Juanita; sons, Alexander and Christopher (Libby); grandchildren, Lynsey, Lloyd, and Lesley Furuta; sister, Christina (Richard, Dr.) Boye; niece, Amity Boye; nephew, Sandford Boye and family of Ponce Inlet, Florida; and his loving cat, Venus, whom he fed shrimp to daily. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Cat Welfare, 741 Wetmore Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43214 and PBJ Connections, a non -profit equine based mental health treatment program, located at 9734 Jug Street Road NW, Pataskala, Ohio, 43062. According to Bill's wishes, he had chosen cremation and with a service at a later date. Arrangements by SCHOEDINGER NORTHEAST CHAPEL. To share memories or condolences, please visit www.schoedinger.com.