David Yue Kwong Wong

WONG, David Yue Kwong Died peacefully on September 16, 2008 at age 98 « in Alhambra, California. Born in Wuzhou, Guangxi Province, China, where his father headed a hospital, David Yue Kwong Wong was a fourth-generation Christian. He studied physics at the University of Redlands (B.A.) and civil engineering at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, graduating in 1933 (B.S., M.A.). That same year he married American-born Lillian Chung of Los Angeles. Together the two sailed for China where David taught civil engineering until war broke out with Japan in the late 1930s. David was heavily engaged in building and repairing roads (including the Burma Road), pontoon bridges, and airfields, such as the one for the famed "FlyingTigers," and other war-related construction projects. In 1949 David and Lillian reestablished themselves in Hong Kong, where David continued to design and build buildings, including churches, schools, and a university. In addition to his design work, David was deeply committed and involved with Hong Kong's Baptist churches and their education of youth through the Pui Ching and Pui To Middle Schools and the HK Baptist College, which became a four-year university. He was one of its founders. In 1975 David was elected as president of the Baptist World Alliance at the 13th Baptist World Congress meeting in Stockholm, Sweden. As the first Asian and lay person to preside over this world body from 1975-1980, he and Lillian traveled the globe as ambassadors on its behalf. In 1965 the University of Redlands honored David with an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters for his work in China, and again in the late 1980s with the University Alumni Award in engineering and religion. In the mid-1980s the Wongs retired in Los Angeles. David's final home was at the Atherton Baptist Homes in Alhambra, where Lillian continues to live. In July 2008 the Wongs celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary with family, friends, and their church, the Chinese Grace Baptist Church of Monterey Park. Besides wife Lillian, David is survived by son Norman, daughter-in-law Angi; daughter Jean, son-in-law Franklin; and grandchildren Marcus and Shou-Ling, Mei Mei and Vincent, Jason and Bill, Wendy and R.J, Jamie and Bob, and Steven, and two great-grandchildren, Ting Wei and Shang Wei. A thanksgiving service will be held on Saturday, September 27 at 11 a.m. at SkyRose Chapel, Rose Hills Memorial Park (Gate 1) in Whittier. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in David's name to the charity of your choice or to Chinese Grace Baptist Church, 337 W. Pomona Blvd., Monterey Park, CA 91754; World Pui Ching Alumni Association, Pui Ching Middle School: 80 Waterloo Rd., Kowloon, Hong Kong, PRC; Atherton Baptist Homes, 214 South Atlantic Blvd., Alhambra, CA 91801.