Frank Kobayashi

July 31, 1930 — January 29, 2024

Frank Toshimi Kobayashi, age 93, passed away peacefully on January 29, 2024.

He was born July 31, 1930 to Edward and Mary Kobayashi in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Frank was the second son amongst his four brothers: Jack, Raymond and Marvin.

Frank’s early life memories were in Delano, California on his family’s farm and where he attended Columbine Elementary School. During World War II in 1942, he and his family were relocated to the Tulare Japanese-American Detention Camp, in California. As a part of an agreement with the Department of Agriculture to work the vegetable fields in Amalga, Utah, Frank’s family was allowed to leave the camp and eventually settle close to relatives in Honeyville.

Frank attended Honeyville Elementary and graduated from Box Elder High School in 1948 where he excelled in sports. While in school, Frank won many titles and awards in wrestling, track, baseball and boxing.

A beautiful young lady, Evelyn Nakaishi, caught Frank’s eye and in October 1953 the pair married and raised four children: Steve, Kelly, Denise (Keith) and Kip. His children would bless him with grand and great-grand children.

From the time he was a little boy working on the farm, Frank was always a hard worker. His 40 plus years in the workforce included the Ogden Defense Depot and Hill Air Force Base where he was hands-on heavy equipment, aircraft and rocket motors. Frank enjoyed tinkering with cars and spent his weekends working at Parson’s Service Station Garage in Brigham City. Before retiring, he rounded out his career as a senior safety engineer at Morton Thiokol and the production of solid propellant rocket motors.

Frank believed in helping his fellow man and was always the first in line to offer his assistance to others around him. For many years Frank served as a Scoutmaster and Leader within the Boy Scouts of America where he guided and trained hundreds of young men on their scouting pilgrimage. A most memorable scouting experience for Frank was when he attended the 13th World Scout Jamboree in Japan helping groups of scouts climb Mount Fuji. It was through scouting that Frank became widely renown for his hand-seasoned pit barbeque. His yearly pit barbeque routine continued on after leaving the scouts and Frank took great pride in supplying barbeque for local events and gatherings. A scouting capstone for Frank was when his endeavors were recognized by receiving the Boys Scouts most honorable Silver Beaver Award.

Outside of work, Frank had many pastimes with one of them being fishing. His passion for fishing started at a young age, an activity that he happily taught and passed onto many generations of family and friends. His yearly group fishing trips to Montana were an especially cherished time that everyone looked forward to attending with Frank.

Another one of Frank’s pastimes was the glitz and glamour of casinos. Frank would always find luck on the slot machines and greatly enjoyed taking the local fun bus to Wendover with his wife and the gambling regulars. Upon arrival, he would methodically find that one slot machine that paid out for him.

Frank was a natural athlete who loved participating in all sports. After High School he competed in basketball, softball and eventually picked up a life-long love of refereeing sporting events. Although Frank refereed basketball and baseball, it was standing behind homeplate as an umpire for girls fastpitch softball that turned him into a household name across the Wasatch Front for his signature play-call of “two-in-the-mud.”

Frank lived a full life, filled with hard work, family, friends and playtime. He will be remembered for his hustle & drive, mischievous personality, determination and most of all his many, many bonds and friendships that he had with everyone he encountered in his life’s adventures.

In lieu of flowers, please share an act of kindness to someone around you in memory of Frank.

In respect to Frank’s wishes, services will be limited to immediate family. He will be laid to rest in the Honeyville, Utah cemetery.