Keiko Wharton Obituary (1930 - 2025)

Keiko Wakabayashi Wharton was born on September 12, 1930, in Yokohama, Japan, the youngest of five children. She was especially close to her father, who cherished her deeply. She often recalled with a smile how he would take her out of school to attend professional sumo wrestling matches — memories that remained vivid throughout her life. Because of those cherished days with him, she remained a devoted sumo fan from childhood through her final years, always cheering on her favorite wrestlers on television. Keiko’s childhood was marked not only by family warmth, but also by profound hardship. She and her family endured World War II in Japan, including periods living inside a bomb shelter and surviving severe shortages of food and water. Even in the face of these challenges, Keiko excelled academically. She was a strong and determined student, known for her diligence and intelligence. In her young adulthood, Keiko made the courageous decision to come to the United States to continue her education and build a new life. She carried her Japanese heritage with grace and dignity, honoring her roots while fully embracing the life she created in her new home. In 2007, after 47 years in the United States, Keiko proudly became a U.S. citizen — a moment she regarded as deeply meaningful. Keiko married Donald L. Wharton, Jr., and together they built a loving home while raising their sons, Donald and Dana. She was a devoted mother — gentle, steady, and always present. Her love extended warmly to her daughter-in-law, Suzy, and she took great joy in her grandchildren: Donald and Kelsey, Hunter and Taylor, and Jazlynn. In her later years, she was further blessed with great-grandchildren Demi, Walker, and Olivia, each of whom brought her light and joy. Professionally, Keiko worked as a staff analyst and bookkeeper for several accounting firms before establishing her own bookkeeping service, which she ran for three decades. Later, she followed her artistic calling and opened her own floral business, where she expressed her love for color, balance, and natural beauty. She was also an accomplished watercolor artist, and her pieces were displayed, collected, and cherished — lasting reflections of her graceful and thoughtful spirit. Keiko was a woman of unwavering faith. A devout Catholic, she completed all of her sacraments, prayed daily, read scripture, and faithfully said the rosary. Her faith was not merely a belief — it was the quiet, guiding foundation of her life. It showed in her patience, her modesty, her kindness, and her gentle way of caring for others without expectation or recognition. Keiko is preceded in death by her husband, Donald L. Wharton, Jr.; her parents, Tadao and Kinu Wakabayashi; her sister Chieko Futukawa; her niece Midori; and her brother-in-law Shunkichi Wakabayashi. She is survived by her sons, Donald (Suzy) Wharton and Dana Wharton; her grandchildren, Donald (Kelsey) Wharton, Hunter (Taylor) Wharton, and Jazlynn Wharton; and her great-grandchildren, Demi, Walker, and Olivia Wharton. She is also survived in Japan by her sister Taeko Wakabayashi; her nephews Hiroshi (Mariko) Wakabayashi, Takashi (Ryoko) Wakabayashi, and Jun Furukawa and his family; and her niece Takako (Masayuki) Yano, along with their families and loved ones. Keiko lived her life with grace, resilience, quiet strength, and deep love. Her presence was gentle, but her impact was lasting. She will be dearly missed, and her memory will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew her. A Funeral Mass in celebration of Keiko’s life will be held at Sacred Heart Church in Brawley. Burial will be private for the family. Arrangements may be directed to Frye Chapel & Mortuary in Brawley, and donations in her memory may be made to Sacred Heart Church.