WOOSTER – William Toshi YAMAZAKI of Wooster,OH died of lung cancer March 5, 2010 in his home in the company of his family and Wayne County Hospice services. He was born May 10, 1917 in San Francisco, the third son of Sho and Hagiko Komatsuzaki Yamazaki. He attended Lowell High School in San Francisco (1934), the University of California Berkeley (B.S., 1939 and M. S., 1941) and The Ohio State University (PhD 1950).
He worked briefly as a wine chemist in Berkeley but was evacuated from the West Coast with other Japanese/American citizens following the outbreak of WWII to an internment camp in Topaz, Utah. Through the efforts of the War Relocation Authority he found a position as technologist with the USDA Soft Wheat Quality Laboratory in Wooster in 1944. He conducted research there and became director of the Laboratory in 1962, a position he held until his retirement in 1981. He published more than fifty refereed research articles in Cereal Chemistry and Agronomy Journal and edited 2 books. He traveled to Pakistan and Egypt as a member of technical aid programs of University consortiums.
He was a member of Sigma Xi, Phi Lambda Upsilon research societies, American Chemical Society, American Association of Cereal Chemistry International (fellow), and American Association for the Advancement of Science (fellow). He was an Eagle Scout, a member of Wooster Rotary Club, and the Century Club. He was an avid sports fan, following the fortunes of the Indians, Browns and the Cavaliers. He was interested in current events, subscribing to three daily newspapers. He also enjoyed duplicate bridge.
Surviving are wife, Sue Harano Yamazaki, to whom he had been married 68 years; son, Russell (Jane) Yamazaki of Grosse Pointe Park, MI and daughters June (Delbert) Craner of Westfield Center,OH and Nancy (Scott) Leavenworth of Superior, Colorado; a granddaughter Holly Leavenworth.
Following his wishes, he will be cremated and Memorial Service will be held Friday, March 12, 2010 at 1:00 P.M. in Mackey Hall at the Westminster Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Andries Coetzee officiating. The family will receive friends following the service.
McIntire, Davis & Greene Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster is assisting the family with arrangements.
For those who wish, contributions may be made to the Westminster Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 353 E. Pine St., Wooster, OH 44691 or to the Viola Startzman Free Clinic, 1874 Cleveland Road, Wooster, OH 44691.
Memorial Contributions
Westminster Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 353 E. Pine St., Wooster, OH 44691 or to the Viola Startzman Free Clinic, 1874 Cleveland Road, Wooster, OH 44691
Service
Friday March 12 at 1pm at Mackey Hall at Westminster Presbyterian Church
Visitation
Following the service
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