By Staff
Byron Hiroshi Kawata, 86, of Fort Lupton, died Feb. 5, 2009.
He was born Feb. 27, 1922, in Fort Lupton to Yutaka and Haruko Kawata. He farmed in Gilcrest for 45 years and also worked at Great Western Sugar Factory and Monfort Feed Lot. Byron attended the University of Colorado for three years, was a member of the Gilcrest Lions Club and a past president of Young Buddhist Association.
Survivors include his wife Mary Kawata; a daughter, Debbie Kawata; two sons, Randy (Susan) Kawata and Wayne (Jennie) Kawata; two granddaughters; one sister, Mary (John) Oshige of El Sanbrante, Calif.; two nieces; and two nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Robert Kawata.
Funeral Service is at 11 a.m., Wednesday Feb. 11 at the tri-state/Fort Lupton Buddhist Temple. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Fort Lupton
