Irving K. Goto – Commander, United States Navy

From a contemporary press report:

Irving K. “Ken” Goto passed away from a sudden heart attack on September 18, 2002 at his home.

Originally born in Kona, Hawaii in 1936, he was the son of Kenji and Hagino Goto, Aiea, Oahu, and a 1954 graduate of Roosevelt High School.

Irving left the islands to join the United States Naval Academy class of 1958 and later became the second Japanese-American to graduate from USNA. Some of the highlights of his career include graduation from U.S. Naval Post-graduate school, Monterey, CA; service in Vietnam; the Naval Inspection and Survey Board, Arlington, Virginia; Naval Ships Systems Command, Crystal City, Virginia and command at sea.

Commander Goto retired from the Navy in 1983 after 25 years of service to begin his civilian career as a naval engineer and planner at VSE, QED and TAI. He spent 16 years at Metro Machine, Norfolk, Virginia, his last years as the Chief of Planning.

Irving was a member of the USNA Alumni Association-Hampton Roads Chapter, the Retired Officers Association and the American Society of Naval Engineers. He enjoyed computer programming, international travel and vacationing with his grandson, Andrew.

He will be remembered for his wry wit, generosity, quick intellect, the Goto-Pulmer Algorithm and dedication to duty, honor and country.

Irving is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Carol; son, Major Stephen K. Goto; daughter-in-law, Shellmay; grandson, Andrew; brother, Alan; sister-in-law, Rosemary; nephews, Ken and Sage; sister-in-law, Joyce Yamasaki and his devoted sidekick, “Tink”.

A funeral service will be held at Little Creek Amphibious Base Chapel, Virginia Beach, at 2 p.m. Tuesday, September 24, 2002. A chapel service and burial with Full Military Honors will be conducted 1 p.m. Monday, November 1, 2002 at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

Civilian friends attending the funeral service must contact H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments Laskin Road Chapel, Virginia Beach, VA (757) 428-7880, before Tuesday in order to enter Little Creek Amphibious Base.

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