Hip Chu Wong

Hip Chu Wong, 95, died unexpectedly Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. Hip was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 28, 1930, the second of six children of laundry owners Howe Soo and Quan Shee Wong. He was a proud son of first-generation Chinese immigrants and learned early the value and discipline of hard work, family responsibility and a good education.

Hip earned honors at Williamsport High School while taking classes at Williamsport Technical Institute. He was popular among his classmates, serving on student council and Key Club before graduating in 1949.

After starting school at Lycoming College, Hip transferred in spring 1950 to the prestigious Parks Air College, the nation’s first federally certified school of aviation. Hip earned his degree in aircraft maintenance engineering in April 1953 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Air Force, after completing the college’s ROTC. program.

After his initial training stateside, Hip was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, where he supervised ground equipment maintenance for American planes based there. Shortly thereafter, he transferred to Ramstein-Landstuhl Air Base in southwest Germany as an aircraft maintenance officer with the 86th Air Base Group, maintaining F-86D Sabre jet fighters. His overseas assignment gave him the chance to travel throughout West Germany, the UK, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Egypt before returning to the U.S. in 1955 as a 1st lieutenant.

Hip was introduced to his future wife by relatives and he married Minnie Yee in Akron in 1956. They began married life in New Jersey, with Hip working for Curtiss-Wright Corp. and Minnie at the local hospital. They returned to Akron in 1958 after the birth of their first child to assume ownership of the Yee family’s laundry. After 11 years, they were forced to sell the land to the city due to the construction of the Innerbelt. Hip adjusted by delivering food for Massoli’s Italian Bakery for a year before earning a sales job with General Electric Corp., from which he retired in 1994.

Hip was a generous, soft-spoken man whose words conveyed both authority and kindness, principle and calm. He led by example and was as comfortable around toddlers as he was talking with his fellow engineers and GE retirees, whom he met regularly for lunch for more than 30 years. He had a special way of making people feel welcome, was a fantastic listener and always showed a genuine interest when talking with anyone.

He loved golf, watching Cleveland sports, making sandwich runs at lunch and sneaking Diet Cokes. Even into his 90s, Hip insisted on mowing his own lawn and could be found soaking up the sun in his chair in the driveway.

Hip was especially proud of his own large and still-growing family, many who still lived within a few miles of his home. Because his children lived locally, regular gatherings were common for birthdays, holidays and “just because.” Hip was his happiest when his family was around, especially the little ones who all knew his whistle. He always had a smile on his face amidst the noise and activity and he welcomed everybody – friends, neighbors and relatives alike.

Hip was preceded in death by Minnie Wong, his wife of 68 years, who died in 2024. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Howe Soo and Quan Shee Wong; his siblings, Wee Chu Wong, Fue Lun “Lonnie” Wong Hom (Philip) and Fue Lane Wong Yee (Harry); sister-in-law Helen Graeff; and Minnie’s six siblings.

Hip leaves a wonderful legacy through his five children: Barbara (Wayne) Gipson, David (Amy) Wong, Michael Wong (Sharon Paige), Kathy (Matt) MacLean and Amy (Todd) Scott; 10 grandchildren, Benjamin (Megan) Scott, Collin (Megan) Scott, Alyssa (Josh) Malezi, Chad Gipson (Jazmine Santiago), Lauren Scott (Casper Tavenor), Jared Gipson (Bobbie Rhodes), Jessica, Alex and Nicholas Wong and Trenton MacLean (Victoria Jones); six great-grandchildren, Jude and Josie Malezi, Hudson and Owen Scott, Jack Scott and Leon Gipson (with Scott and Gipson great-grands on the way); and his “double niece” Janice (Robert) Rothschild and great-nephews, Harrison and Jonah Rothschild. He also leaves siblings Nim (Oy) Wong, Neun Wong, sisters-in-law Gloria Wong and Elizabeth Yee, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews who stayed in touch with him from their homes worldwide. The happy memories Hip made with his family and friends will serve as reminders of his beloved, kind personality, happy life and valued friendship.

Friends may call 4-8 P.M. FRIDAY January 9th, 2026 at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Road Fairlawn, OH 44333. The funeral service will be held 3 P.M. SATURDAY January 10th, also at Billow’s. Private inurnment will take place at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Hip’s memory may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org) or Tunnels to Towers (t2t.org/).

Services in care of The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory, 85 N. Miller Road Akron, OH 44333 (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel).