George Takata was born on July 7, 1932, and went to heaven on March 1, 2026, at the age of 93. He was the son of the late Yoichi and Mifu Takata. George was married to his beloved wife, Kim Sachiko Takata, for nearly 62 years until her passing in March of 2020. He was the beloved brother of Isamu Takata and Miyoko Fukumoto and loving father of Diana Takata and son-in-law, Don Thompson. He is survived by many other loving family members in California and Japan, his church family, and golf buddies.
George lived most of his life in Southern California, as a youth in Kagoshima, Japan and his later years, from 2004 through the end of his life, in Middletown and Frederick, Md.
He was a master gardener and professional landscaper and was known for his beautifully designed Japanese gardens. He joyfully volunteered throughout his lifetime and held leadership positions from the 1980s through 2004 with the San Fernando Valley Gardeners Association, Southern California Gardeners Friendship Society and Southern California Gardeners Federation Co-Op serving as auditor, treasurer, and president.
During his years in Southern California, he enjoyed “shigin,” a traditional form of Japanese vocal art and poetry, dating back to the late Edo period. In addition, he enjoyed karaoke singing, fishing with friends in the Japanese American community, and volunteering for many years at the Keiro Nursing Home in Los Angeles, California.
In 2004, he retired and took up golf while taking lessons at Frederick Community College. At its conclusion he became one of the founding members of the Hope Valley Senior Golf League and continued to play on with the Senior League at Maple Run.
George loved his church family at Middletown United Methodist Church. He and Kim became members in 2004 and George was baptized in 2005.
At the end of his life George said, “Thank you. I lived a lovely life.” A kind, humble, dignified, responsible, and hard-working man with a beautiful smile, he lived a life of service, devotion to family, and love of country.
Rest in peace George/Dad! A celebration of life will be held at a date and time to be determined at the Middletown United Methodist Church. Both George and Kim’s remains will be interred at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Court of Remembrance.