Miwako Sakimoto Lee

March 5, 2023

Miwako Sakimoto Lee passed away peacefully on March 5, 2023 at the age of 93.

She was raised in Kobe, Japan. Miwako’s education and proficiency in the English language allowed her to become an interpreter at a U.S. Air Force base in Japan. This led to her meeting the love of her life Colonel Thomas Lee. As a military officer and wife, they traveled the world together and were stationed at bases including the Pentagon, Korea and Travis AFB. After Col Lee retired in 1968, they settled in San Rafael, California to raise their two daughters. Miwako enjoyed a long career in the hospitality industry at Japantown San Francisco including being the Guest Relations Manager for the Miyako Hotel. Miwako studied classical Japanese dance and performed yearly at the San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival.

She moved to Lake Oswego, Oregon in 2006 to be closer to family. She enjoyed her retirement being a grandmother, getting together with good friends, doing Jazzercise and taking annual trips to Osaka, Japan.

Miwako is survived by her children: Mari and Vik Tymchenko, Tomi and Ken Clayton, grandchildren: Kevin Clayton, Cassidy Clayton, Christie Clayton Larson and husband Timothy, Alex Tymchenko, Andrew Tymchenko and wife Lindsey, great-grandchildren: Shaylee, Noah and Teddy due in June. She is also survived by her two brothers Kazumasa Sakimoto, Masaji Sakimoto and family of Japan. Her husband Thomas Lee, mother Koto Sakimoto and sister Martha Sweat preceded her in death. Miwako will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband at a private internment at the San Francisco National Cemetery.