Victoria Vickie Katsuko Hata Iwata

Victoria (Vickie) Katsuko Iwata peacefully passed away at her home on July 18, 2013 in Monterey Park, California at the age of 92. She was born on April 20, 1921 to Torao & Naka Hata in Honolulu, Hawaii.

She is a graduate of Keisen Jogako in Japan and Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Vickie married Dr. Richard Iwata on August 5, 1948 in Alhambra, California and was a loving wife for 52 years. She dedicated her life to her family; supporting her husband, raising her children and grand-children.

Vickie was actively involved in the Japanese American Community with the Boy Scouts of America – Troop 379 Koyasan, Asia America Symphony Guild, Japanese American Medical Association Auxiliary, Montebello Women’s Club and Japanese American Amateur Radio Society. She had a passion for beautifully orchestrated music, pretty flowers and traveling the world with Richard.

Vickie is survived by her five children: Luke (Julie), Elizabeth (Glen) Morinaka, Burton (Roni), Grant (Vicki) and Peggy (Ken) Matsuura; eleven grandchildren: Laura (Brian) Morinaka Santo, Justin, Jennifer, Drake Morinaka, Brandon, Trevor, Kathryn, Troy, Heather, Derek and Claire Matsuura; one great-grand daughter: Natalie Santo; sister-in-law: Yoneko Iwata, and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers and sisters: Tad Hata, Ted Hata, Kiyoko Otani, Tamiko Hata and Herbert Hata.