Obituary for Itsuko Nozaki "Mariko" English
Itsuko “Mariko” English, 88, passed away peacefully Tuesday, October 4, 2022, at her home.
Born May 25, 1934, in Karatsu-shi (Saga-Ken) in Japan, she was the daughter of the late Junkichiro and Tomeko Nozaki. While working as a bookkeeper in a tailor shop in Japan, she met the love of her life, Earl W. English, Jr., who chose the tailor shop for alterations to one of his military uniforms and ended up finding his one true love. They were married at the American Embassy in Tokyo on September 19, 1967 and spent their happily ever after traveling across the country to various air bases, including Shaw AFB in the 1970s.
While stationed at Loring Air Force Base in Aroostook County in Maine, she earned her U.S. citizenship but always treasured and prided her Japanese heritage as evidenced by the beautiful Japanese mementos decorating her home. Mrs. English was a devoted and loving wife and longed to be reunited with her husband who passed away in 2016. She loved travelling and spending time with her Japanese friends in the Sumter area who were extended family and supported her during her declining health in recent years.
We wish to thank Raquel Vaughn and April Smith who lovingly took care of Mrs. English and to Caris Hospice in Sumter.
Burial service will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at the Fort Jackson National Cemetery in Columbia.
Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements..
Born May 25, 1934, in Karatsu-shi (Saga-Ken) in Japan, she was the daughter of the late Junkichiro and Tomeko Nozaki. While working as a bookkeeper in a tailor shop in Japan, she met the love of her life, Earl W. English, Jr., who chose the tailor shop for alterations to one of his military uniforms and ended up finding his one true love. They were married at the American Embassy in Tokyo on September 19, 1967 and spent their happily ever after traveling across the country to various air bases, including Shaw AFB in the 1970s.
While stationed at Loring Air Force Base in Aroostook County in Maine, she earned her U.S. citizenship but always treasured and prided her Japanese heritage as evidenced by the beautiful Japanese mementos decorating her home. Mrs. English was a devoted and loving wife and longed to be reunited with her husband who passed away in 2016. She loved travelling and spending time with her Japanese friends in the Sumter area who were extended family and supported her during her declining health in recent years.
We wish to thank Raquel Vaughn and April Smith who lovingly took care of Mrs. English and to Caris Hospice in Sumter.
Burial service will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at the Fort Jackson National Cemetery in Columbia.
Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements..