Gene Wah Ong |
| Posted 2007-01-09 by Casa Grande Valley News |
| ROSEVILLE, Calif. - Gene Wah Ong, 77, a native of China who emigrated to the United States at age 5 and dropped out of high school, yet ran a successful grocery store in Eloy that allowed him to send his five children to college and retire before the age of 50, has died. The memorial service will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Maidu Community Center in Roseville. Mr. Ong died on Dec. 13, 2006 from lung cancer at his home in Roseville. He was born on Sept. 16, 1929 in a small village near Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton), China. In 1934 his father, Sam Ong, traveled to China to bring his wife and son to Coolidge, where he owned and operated a grocery store. After enrolling in Coolidge High School in 1943, Mr. Ong dropped out and enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served at Fort Sill, Okla., received an honorable discharge and returned to Coolidge to work in his father's grocery store. He married Marguerite R. Yee of New York City in 1953. He continued working in his father's store and an uncle's grocery store in San Diego before opening his own store, Foodtown, in Eloy in 1958. He was active in the Eloy Lions Club and the Eloy Chamber of Commerce and a longtime supporter of St. Helen of the Cross Catholic Church. In 1981, the Chamber of Commerce selected him as its "Good Neighbor of the Year." He sold Foodtown and retired in August 1978. In 1982 he relocated to Roseville. He is survived by his wife, Rita; two daughters, Susan Campbell of Roseville and Cheryl Johnson of Sacramento, Calif.; three sons, David of Sacramento, Steven of Citrus Heights, Calif., and John of San Diego; a sister, Mary; two brothers, Bill and Pete; and six grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer's Association or a hospice organization of the donor's choice. ©Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc. 2007 |
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