Albert Okuma Obituary

Al Okuma, 67, of Ventura, California, ascended to the spiritual world on June 16, 2013.
Al was born in Cleveland OH on Feb. 10, 1946. He attended elementary and high school in La Puente, CA. He earned a degree in Architectural Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1971 and in Architecture in 1975. It was at Cal Poly that he met and married the love of his life, Janice. Al entered the Army in 1971 and together Al and Jan moved to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where Al was a Second Lieutenant in the Army. They moved to Ventura, where they raised their two children, Reiko and Scott. Al gained experience in several local architectural firms and had a partnership in his own firm.

Al also worked for Southern California Edison as a sustainable architect, and most recently for the firm of Leech Mounce. Well respected in the architectural community, Al was a member of the American Institute of Architects and Construction Specifications Institute. He served on the City of Ventura Planning Commission and the design review board for several years.
Al's love of the beauty of the natural world and form and function were reflected in his passion for photography and origami, both were gifts that he generously shared with friends and family. Al's kind, sincere, and thoughtfully reflective temperament were a gift to his family, friends, and coworkers. He met the most recent challenge of his life, a debilitating stroke, with grace, courage, and often his trade mark humor. Since first hearing of the Baha'i Faith and Baha'u'llah's healing message of unity and oneness, Al has been a dedicated member of the worldwide Baha'i family.
Al is survived by his wife, Janice, daughter Reiko Evans (Jason), son Scott Okuma (Amanda) and grandsons, Owen, Sam, Will and Ryu and granddaughter Ayla, all of Ventura. His brother Tim Okuma lives in Seal Beach.

A memorial service celebrating Al's life will be held at Charles Carroll Funeral home on Saturday July 13, 2013 at 1:00PM.

To honor Al's love for his profession of architecture, a memorial donation may be made in his name to: The American Institute of Architects Ventura County (AIAVC) referencing the scholarship fund in memory of Al. Donations should be mailed to AIAVC Chapter Office, 300 Montgomery Street, Oxnard, CA, 93030.