Yasuko Larrew

Yasuko Larrew, 87, of Columbus, GA. passed away peacefully at Columbus Hospice House. A memorial service will be held Thursday, July 24, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. EST at Vance-Brooks Funeral Home, 4048 Macon Road, Columbus, GA. with Dr. Tommy A. Henschel officiating. A committal will follow on Friday at Fort Benning Main Post Cemetery beginning at 11:00 A.M; the family will receive friends Wednesday, July 23, 2014 from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. EST at the funeral home. Yasuko Larrew was born on October 5, 1926 in Kumamoto, Japan, daughter of the late Yoshito Araki and Sumi Ohta Araki. Yasuko told many stories of her life in Japan, stories of war and peace. August 1945, was a day that Yasuko talked about with bravery and courage. She was so close to the atomic bombing of the city Nagasaki conducted by the United States during the final stages of World War II, she could feel the blast beneath her feet, and could see the cloud. Yasuko later met the love of her life in Japan, Lester Larrew, he was an American soldier in the United States Army. They married soon after among her family in Japan. The young married couple moved back to America. Yasuko became a proud American citizen. Yasuko was a Homemaker. She was a member of Cornerstone Baptist Church. In her spare time she greatly enjoyed visiting nursing homes, offering companionship and great conversation, also helping prepare and serve meals. She will always be remembered as a compassionate lady, devoted wife, loving mother, and grandmother. Other than her parents, Yasuko is preceded in death by grandson John Wesley Larrew. Survivors include her loving husband of 56 years, Lester Larrew, of Columbus, GA; two sons, Lee Eric Larrew and wife Shelia of Charleston, S.C, Clifford Fred Larrew and wife Jonette of Carrollton, GA; one sister, Keiko Araki, of Kumamoto, Japan; eight grandchildren, Andrew, Daniel, Thomas, Lisa, Faith Larrew, Joseph Larrew and his wife Chelsea, Stephen Larrew and his wife Jennifer, Constance Billman and husband Edmund; one great grandchild, Eliana Billman. In lieu of flowers, those so desiring may make a memorial donation to Cornerstone Baptist Church Building Fund; 16117 GA Hwy 315, PO Box 215 Ellerslie, GA 31807.