Gene Wah Ong

1929 - 2006

Gene Wah Ong
9/16/1929 - 12/13/2006
PHOTO

Gene Wah Ong, a native of China, emigrated to the United States at the age of five and dropped out of high school, yet ran a successful grocery store that allowed him to send his five children to college and retire before the age of 50, has died. He was 77.
Mr. Ong passed away on December 13, 2006 from lung cancer at his home in Roseville, Calif.
Mr. Ong was born on September 16, 1929, in a small village near Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton), China. In 1934, Mr. Ong's father, Sam Ong, traveled to China to bring his wife and son to Coolidge, Ariz., 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 Ft. 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, N.Y. on September 16, 1953. He continued working in his father's store in Coolidge, and an uncle's grocery store in San Diego, Calif., before opening his own grocery store, Foodtown, in Eloy, Ariz., in 1958.
Mr. Ong was active in the Eloy Lions Club and the Eloy Chamber of Commerce, and a longtime supporter of St. Helen's Catholic Church. In 1981, the Chamber of Commerce selected Mr. Ong as its "Good Neighbor of the Year." Mr. Ong sold Foodtown and retired in August 1978.
In 1982, Mr. Ong relocated to Roseville, Calif. He is survived by his wife, Rita; daughters Susan Campbell of Roseville, Calif. and Cheryl Johnson of Sacramento, Calif.; sons David of Sacramento, Calif., Steven of Citrus Heights, Calif. and John of San Diego, Calif.; grandchildren Angela, Matt, Rachel and Timothy Campbell, and Grant and Gary Johnson; sons-in-law Rod Campbell and Tom Johnson; brothers Bill and Pete; and a sister, Mary.
A memorial service for Mr. Ong will be held on Saturday, January 6, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Maidu Community Center, 1550 Maidu Dr., Roseville, CA., 95661.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer's Association or a hospice organization of the donor's choice.