Seiji Yamashita

Seiji passed away on June 20, 2022, in Visalia, CA, at age 85. Seiji was born on February 14, 1937, in Fresno, CA, to Shinichi and Sawano Yamashita. As a baby, he suffered an ear infection that affected his hearing and speech. His family was relocated to a WWII internment camp in Poston, AZ, in August 1942. They returned to their ranch in Ivanhoe, CA, after the war ended in 1945. He was a lifetime member of the Visalia Buddhist Church. Seiji was in the special education program at Visalia Sierra Vista School where he excelled in his Commercial Art, Mechanical Drawing, and Audio/Video classes. He was named "Boy of the Month" by the Sequoia Lions Club. He took several Drafting classes at COS (College of the Sequoias) where he designed the 1957 yearbook cover and was presented with a drafting table by Pomona County Grange. He designed part of the old Goshen Freeway (today known as US Route 99) for the Tulare County Planning Commission where he worked for two years. Seiji lived with his parents on their ranch, growing oranges for Sunkist. After his father passed away in 1967, he took over maintenance including irrigation and weed spraying. He was the "architect" for the new family home that was built in 1974. When the family ranch in Ivanhoe was sold in 2004, he moved to Visalia, CA, where he gladly maintained the much smaller front and back yards. Sadly, Seiji was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in June 2014, and moved to Kaweah Manor Convalescent Hospital in September 2016. Seiji's life-long love of trains began when he was given a Lionel train set at a very young age. Perhaps this is what sparked his interest in electrical work and repairing cars. He could be seen every day looking over the fence when a train went past his backyard at his home in Visalia. Seiji was preceded in death by his parents, Shinichi and Sawano Yamashita, and sisters, Suzuko Sue Matsuda, Setsuko Betty Hasebe, Shizue Susie Yamashita, Hisaye Judy Yamashita and Katsuko Nancy Yamashita. He is survived by his sisters, Aiko Jean Hasebe and Sachiye June Yasuda, and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the wonderful, caring staff at Kaweah Manor Convalescent Hospital where Seiji resided since 2016. A graveside service will be held at Visala Public Cemetery on Saturday July 9, 2022, at 9:30am. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Seiji Yamashita

February 14, 1937 - June 20, 2022