Lydia Hatsuki Shiba

Lydia Hatsuki Shiba, a longtime resident of Sacramento, CA died January 13, 2016. Lydia was a devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She will be remembered for her love of life, wonderful sense of humor, and great cooking. She taught us all by her example to value the contributions of every person and she was very supportive and proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Lydia was born to the late George Saichi and Tamaji Matsuyama Nagata in Dinuba, CA on August 1, 1925. She graduated from Poston High School in 1943 as a member of the first graduating class, and subsequently received her diploma from Dinuba High School. In 1950, she married Kiyohiko Shiba in the Dinuba Methodist Church. They lived in Kerman, CA until 1963, when they moved their family to Sacramento, CA where K worked as an associate telecommunications engineer for the State of California Department of Transportation. Every summer, the family returned to K's parents' peach farm in Cutler, CA to assist with the harvest and the children have fond memories of those times spent with extended family. An avid Sacramento Kings fan, she and K looked forward to watching them play whenever they were on TV. She loved to play the slot machines at the casinos and although K didn't like to gamble, he would drive her and sometimes wait for her in the car. In 2012, the whole family enjoyed a trip to Disneyland to celebrate K's 90th birthday. Lydia leaves behind her son David and daughter-in-law Debra of Modesto, CA, daughter Kathie and son-in-law Jeff of Maryville, TN, son Kenneth of Sacramento, CA, and daughter Nancy of Sacramento, CA. She is survived by her brother Ed of Kingsburg, CA, sister Lilyan and brother-in-law George of Fresno, CA, and sister Amy of New York. She is preceded in death by her husband, Kiyohiko, sister Mallie of Cutler, CA, brother Stanley of Dinuba, CA, and brother Gordon of Orosi, CA. Grandma Lydia will be deeply missed by her grandchildren: Rebecca of Sacramento, CA, Sara and Jeff of Denver, CO, Ty and Megan of Oakland, CA, Michael and Bonnie of Richmond Hill, GA, Sarah and Brent of Kernersville, NC, Crystal and Brad of Lafayette, LA, Debra Marie and Tony of Chico, CA, Bryan of San Francisco, CA, Steven of Santa Clara, CA, and Jacob of Maryville, TN, as well as by her 8 great-grandchildren. Grandma Lydia was patient, kind, loving, and made the best inari, macaroni salad, egg foo young, and fried rice and every Christmas could be depended upon for her trays of cookies and peanut brittle. Her ashes will be privately interred at the family plot at Smith Mountain Cemetery. Please join us for a Celebration of Life Service for both Lydia and K followed by a lunch reception which will be held Saturday, March 12, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Palm United Methodist Church, 438 West Tulare Street, Dinuba, CA. Messages to the family may be posted to www.sierraviewfuneralchapel.net