Eric Norman Campbell
Eric Campbell of Kalaheo passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on July 21, 2020, following a brief illness. He was 77.
Eric was born March 5, 1943, in Moscow, Idaho, but at the age of two weeks traveled by troop train with his mother to Seattle, where he grew up. He graduated from Highline College, where he met the love of his life, Susan Joyce Dansenburg. They were married Nov. 20, 1964, and together had three children.
He worked for Kay-Tee Company, creating terrazzo floors and stair treads for the IBM building until he was hired on at the Boeing Airplane Company in 1965. He became a structural engineer at Boeing, testing airplane parts, particularly landing gears. Fellow engineers knew him as “The Wizard of the Million Pound Machine” for his skill and knowledge. He had an uncanny ability to anticipate the exact moment at which a part would fail.
He took early retirement after working for Boeing for over 30 years and he and Susan traveled in their beloved 5th-wheel camper across the United States and Canada. They also took many trips to Hawai‘i, and moved to Kaua‘i in 1999.
His interests were many: electronics, flint-knapping, milling lumber, woodworking, mechanics, robotics, numerous crafts and, most recently, aquaponics. If you had the misfortune of being his server in a restaurant, the family apologizes. He was allergic to onions and questioned every meal set before him.
He was preceded in death by parents Jesse L. and Louise (Talbott) Campbell and his grandson Nolan Kenneth Campbell. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Susan, children Douglas (Debbie) Campbell, Jeremy (Jenni Scotti) Campbell and Rhian (Sundee) Campbell, brother Peter (Carol) Eikenberry and a large extended family.
He was always ready to help a friend, and they join the family in mourning his passing. Services will be held at a later date on Kaua‘i and in Seattle.
Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Henry Fernandez
Henry Fernandez, of Roy, Washington, passed away on Aug. 31, 2020, at the age of 74.
He was born on Dec. 4, 1945, in Waimea. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany and Vietnam. He retired as a civilian worker at Ft. Lewis Army base in Washington.
He was preceded in death by father Ralph Dominador Fernandez of Kekaha, mother Rosita Aperto Naumu of Honolulu, and brother Edward (Georgia) Fernandez of Kekaha.
He is survived by wife Carmen Sinek Fernandez, children Frank (Tricia) Sinek, Marie (George Kimber) Monet and Joe Sinek, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, brothers Melvin Fernandez of Portsmouth, Rhode Island and Daniel Fernandez of Kekaha, sisters Bernice Wade of Kekaha, Katherine Dilwith of Reno, Nevada, and Jeanette Pahota of Keizer, Oregon, maternal aunt Nora Aperto Cataluna of Koloa, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, his celebration of life and internment will be announced at a later date. For more information, contact Daniel Fernandez, 337-1443.
Helen Chieko Pruitt Okamoto
Helen Chieko Pruitt Okamoto, of Lihu‘e, passed away peacefully on May 15, 2020. She was born on Jan. 25, 1925, in Lihu‘e, to Masaichi and Hanayo Ishii Sasaki. She was a homemaker.
She is survived by sister Flora Cox, sister-in-law Mildred Sasaki of Lihu‘e, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Private services will be held at a later date.
Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
