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Community remembers Frank's Grocery owner Posted: Tuesday, Mar 25, 2008 - 02:11:58 pm PDT By Matthew Weaver Herald senior reporter
MOSES LAKE -Columbia Basin residents are remembering Frank Y. Koba. He died Thursday at Samaritan Hospital. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Miyo, his three children, Rick (Kathy) of Moses Lake, Marsha of Soap Lake and Doug (Jeanne) of Phoenix, Ariz.; his brother Harry of Seattle and numerous nieces and nephews.Koba's services were scheduled for today at 1 p.m. Born Nov. 1, 1918, in Steveston, British Columbia, to Kichijiro and Fui (Hayashi) Koba, Koba lived on Bainbridge Island, where he graduated from high school in 1937.
Frank and Miyo bought Frank's Grocery in January 1952. Longtime customer and friend Peny Archer didn't believe there's a student who graduated from Moses Lake High School in the last 50 years who didn't know Koba. "Most every kid from 50 years used to go down there a lot for lunch, because basically that's the only place they had to go off of school grounds," Archer recalled. "He kind of came across as stern, with a heart as big as the outdoors." Koba used to give speeches within the Moses Lake School District about his time in the internment camps, Archer noted. "It was a very much Ma and Pa type of store with him and his wife, and it still is to this day," she said. "It always amazed me, these two were working seven days a week, 12-plus hour days. If they closed a little early on Christmas Day, that was amazing. But they were usually still open until at least early afternoon." Archer remembered when she was a student who would go in to buy candy, and Koba would tease her that her quarter wasn't any good, as though it were fake. "He did the same thing with my children and also my grandchildren," she said. "I guess it's just basically hometown hospitality and friendship. I swear Frank and his wife probably know every kid to this day by a first-name basis, know who their parents are and know where they live. You don't find that at the bigger stores. It was very much a personal, one on one ... it was the neighborhood, even though it was the whole town." Gary Hendricks lives about a block and a half from Koba's store. "I have gone down there, my family and my children, and their children, over three generations," he said. "He's been a good friend, we got acquainted and I drank coffee down there in the mornings and we talked baseball or whatever else was current at that time." Koba was very honest and would give his opinion without any backing away, Hendricks said. "He was just one of the guys you felt comfortable in talking about most anything," he recalled. "We mostly talked about sports and what was going on at the high school. I know for many, many years he followed the high school athletic programs. And lots of kids have gone through his store and come back later, and maybe their kids too, like my family. My great-grandchildren are going there now." Koba would give advice to children when they got out of line, Hendricks remembered, and tell them how they should act. "I think he was probably a good guidance person for some of the children," Hendricks said. "They always came back with changed behavior. He just met people well. People liked Frank, for whatever reason. You know how some people have that look about them? They respected him." Scott Grigg said he had been going to the market for more than 20 years, on a "pretty much" daily basis to stop for coffee and gossip. "I got the pleasure to shovel their snow whenever it snowed," he said. "It kind of became a tradition, that that's what I did." Grigg spoke of Koba's character and his wit. "His humor, and how many kids he helped to raise, basically," he said. "He's just gone through so many generations of kids stopping there from going to the high school. He had a strong character, a good personality. He was part of our growing up childhood." George Black recalled buying sirloin steaks from Koba at the market, and bought a newspaper from his store for about 40 years. "He was quite an old gentleman," Black said. "He was friendly and he was excellent at what he did, which was butchering and that sort of thing." Black said Koba was always friendly to the community, and he and his children were good to the area's youth. "They were actually a very important part of the community," he said. Koba also took care of a lot of "cultural things" for the Japanese community, Black added. "Stuff I wouldn't eat for ..." Black joked with a laugh. "Raw fish. I wouldn't eat that." Former Moses Lake mayor and city council member Lee Blackwell would often go to the market because Koba carried Japanese specialty items, which Blackwell's wife used in her cooking. "He's an icon in our community," Blackwell said. Koba received a "prestigious" honor from the city council during Blackwell's tenure, Blackwell recalled, for his contributions to the community, taking care of business in a proper way and being a good friend to kids. "His was a gathering place for young kids, a positive gathering place," Blackwell said. "He was a good citizen, raised a good family, contributed to the community and set standards for the community."
* All comment posts will encounter a possible delay of up to 24 hours. Trish (Boyle) Huff wrote on Mar 30, 2008 2:10 PM: " As a child from the age of 5 I would walk to Frank's with my pop bottles in tow. I never really knew how much my bottles were worth and I would spend every penny on candy. There were days I would be at the store for what seemed like hours. Frank always made me count the candy as well as the pennies. I walked to see Frank at least twice a week usually more. He and his wife are wonderful caring people. I wish there were more people in this world like them. My heart goes out to Miyo,Rick, Marsha & Doug " Jeffery wrote on Mar 26, 2008 3:40 PM: " Talk about stirring up fond memories of childhood. WOW! Many many stops by Franks throughout my childhood.
RIP Mr. Koba " Jim and Carol Adamson wrote on Mar 26, 2008 3:12 PM: " What wonderful memories we have of Frank. We know our boys spent many pennies, dimes and nickels at the corner store, under Franks watchful and caring eyes. What a positive influence he has been over the years for kids AND adults. Our love and prayers are with the family. Jim and Carol Adamson " Cory Shiozaki wrote on Mar 26, 2008 10:55 AM: " I am the historian for the Manzanar Committee based in Los Angeles.
I would like to contact the Koba family. Please forward this email address to them... Cory Shiozaki Historian Manznar Committee " J.B. Fischer wrote on Mar 26, 2008 5:19 AM: " I first went to Koba's store in 1960. I went to school with Rick and Doug and remember my times at the store as being part of a close family. Frank was always friendly and very supportative of the Chiefs. He will be dearly missed within the community. I am only sorry I cannot be there to honor him and his family. " Monique wrote on Mar 26, 2008 1:25 AM: " Like Mr. Hendricks, I lived down the street from Frank's market. I used to stop in when I'd walk home from Garden Heights. I'd usually get a flavor-ice and he would cut the plastic top off for me. I can't imagine childhood in Moses Lake without Frank. I also remember listening to him speak about internment, now I'm studying it in college. He will be missed. " Andrew wrote on Mar 25, 2008 10:33 PM: " Frank will definitely be missed. I used to buy baseball cards from him all the time. But what I remember most about Frank was the tootsie rolls he sold for a penny each - and he would count them out right in front of you one-by-one.
You'll be missed Frank. " Larry Rimple wrote on Mar 25, 2008 10:05 PM: " Frank's was a mainstay in the lives of many generations of school kids. I'm proud to have been one of those kids. You will always be in our hearts, Frank. On behalf of MLHS class of 86, Thank you. " Japanese Rider wrote on Mar 25, 2008 9:43 PM: " Reading the previous postings, I realized that I am probably one of the younger generations that had the honor and priviledge of having the positive influence of Frank and his wife in my life. I often went to Frank's market riding my bike when I stayed at my aunt's house, who lived nearby. Frank would tell me everytime, jokingly, that I was not Mexican, I was Japanese! I would buy my candy and before I walked out the door he would say, "See you later my Japanese rider!" I will miss your stories, jokes and wonderful words of wisdom you gave me! Your family and loved ones will be in my prayers. You will be forever missed....Thank you!! " Paul Oman wrote on Mar 25, 2008 7:09 PM: " When I lived on Grant Street while attending Garden Heights Elementary School, I had a CBH newspaper route in the area. The papers would be dropped off in front of Franks Market each afternoon. I would gather up my papers and deliver them and then spend most of the money I earned on snacks at Franks Market. Frank was a good man. I wish I had gotten to know him and his wife better especially now that I am married to a Japanese wife. Some of my earliest memories of going shopping were to spend 5 or 10 cents on a Sugar Daddy candy bar at Franks Market. That was kind of a big thing for us kids at the time.
Our condolences to Frank's Family and to Doug (a fellow MLHS classmate). Paul and Yasuko Oman Woodbridge, VA " Hattie Zielke wrote on Mar 25, 2008 6:22 PM: " I remember walking to Franks every morning before starting my classes at the high school. I started late in meeting Frank. I went one year at the highschool and it was my seinor year. This also was Franks Last year running the store full time. Frank was my mentor when I needed advice. I know my husband remembers getting penny tootsie rolls and Frank telling him he had 102 and not a 100. Frank will be missed. I don't know a single kid who doesn't know Frank. " Nita wrote on Mar 25, 2008 5:54 PM: " Frank and his family were a big part of MLHS and a positive part as well. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family for their loss. I loved my lunches at Franks market during the years of 1976-1979.
" Amy N. Bowen-Withers wrote on Mar 25, 2008 5:05 PM: " 1995 Graduate of MLHS. Frank will surely be missed. What wonderful memories all of us will have of you. " shawna wrote on Mar 25, 2008 4:16 PM: " Rest In Peace sir Frank
i remember coming to your store and you had always gave me a smile and a wink.may you look down upon us and smile. "
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