Walter Foo Wong

Walter Wong passed away peacefully on June 29, 2024. Walter was born in San Francisco and his family moved to Salinas when Walter was a young boy. Walter's father, Harry Yee Wong died when Walter was in the eight grade. Walter began working part-time to help support his family after his father's death. His father owned several restaurants in Salinas over the years, in which Walter worked at. Walter worked his way through Salinas High (where he was active in student government) two years at Hartnell College and Pre-Med at the University of California Berkeley. His responsibilities to his mother brothers and sisters were too great to permit going on to medical school, so Walter went into the field of Public Health. He began his professional career as a Public Health Environmental Health Specialist for Stanislaus County, Ca, but when his mother died in 1955, he had to return to Salinas to care for his younger brothers and sister. Fortunately, Monterey County had an opening for a Public Health Environmental Health Specialist, and in September 1955, Walter began his career with Monterey County Health Department. Walter rose through the ranks of the Health Department and in 1971, after completing his Master Degree at the University of Hawaii, became Director of Environmental Health for Monterey County. He was the first person of Chinese ancestry to hold such a position in California. He has been the President of the California Association of Environmental Health Administrators and President of the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health. Walter was also active with the Monterey County Historical Society. Walter retired from Monterey County in 2001. after serving for over 46 years. Walter love sports and keep abreast on all the local and national news and politics.
He was preceded in death by his father (Harry), mother (Grace), brothers (Woodrow, William, Warren, Wilfred) and sister (Judy).
He is survived by his sister (Melba) and many nieces and nephews.
A private service will be at the Garden of Memories Memorial Park in Salinas At 1:00 pm on Wednesday July 10, 2024.