Aiko Barbara Saruwatari Horn

Born to parents Akira Saruwatari and Masako (Fukamaki) Saruwatari in Arroyo Grande until the family was evacuated to Tulare, CA a holding camp until barracks were built in Gila, AZ.

Our father received an approval from the government to leave Gila, on August 31, 1943 only if he went East. Dad left and found us housing and a job for him. He sent for us and we left Gila and moved to Chicago, IL.

As soon as the coast was cleared for Japanese to return, we came back to Santa Barbara our Mothers home town.

Aiko went graduated from SBHS 1951 and soon after moved south to Woodbury college.

She met her first husband Kaz Hamamoto and they had two children , Kimiko survives as does her husband Les Fujiwara and they have two children, Kevin (Allison) and Sandy (Cullen) and great grandson Karson.

Aiko is also survived by two sisters, Yukiko Dianne Takeuchi and Ann Margaret (Peggy) Hergenroether and Aiko’s husband Don Horn as well as four step-daughters.

A Celebration of life was held on July 18, 2026 in Beaumont, CA.