Wen Ching Gualtieri

Wen Ching Gualtieri was born in Shanghai, China on July 4, 1948. She passed on to the Lord, peacefully at home on Nov 9, 2025, in the presence of her husband, Bob, her older son, Michael, Fr. Bob Johnson and Acolyte Tom Tolzien. Her father was a navigator in the Chinese Nationalist Air Force and their family moved to Taiwan in 1949 with Chiang Kai-Sheck. Wen grew up as a Republic of China AF dependent. She was a fervent anti-communist and supporter of pro-life activities, strongly disapproving of abortion.

Wen had four sisters and a brother and was the second oldest of the siblings. Her parents eventually emigrated to the States as did her sisters. She met her husband, Bob, when he was stationed in Taiwan and they married Mar 16, 1973 while Bob was in the Active Duty Air Force. She was naturalized as an American citizen in Guam, maintaining dual citizenship with Taiwan, ROC.

From Taiwan, the family moved to Clark AB, PI and then Rhein Main AB, Germany. In 1979, Bob left active duty and the family moved to New Jersey where he grew up, and they bought their first house in New Milford, NJ. While in NJ, Wen became a realtor and was very successful, receiving the million dollar sales club award in 1984 and 1986. In 1985, Bob got a job as an Air Reserve Technician at Duke Field and the family followed the next year after Wen prepared the house for sale. They built a house in Southwind in Bluewater Bay and Wen acted as the general contractor. The house was completed in 1989, where she maintained residence until she passed.

Wen lived for a time in San Diego where she was a business consultant and Bob was reassigned to Milwaukee. They reunited in Colorado Springs when Bob got a job with a defense contractor. Fortunately, they kept the house in Southwind and moved back to Florida permanently in 2016.

Wen was an amazing cook and constantly amazed Bob with her recipes. Chinese food requires extensive preparation and she taught Bob how to cut the food and marinate the meat. Supper was always a time when all family members contributed to the preparation. Often the children would ask if we were having Chinese food or American food so they could set the table accordingly.

Wen also loved to participate in women's events. She was a member of the Northwest Florida Retired Officers wives Club and enjoyed attending the wives' events at the Knights of Columbus conventions especially when they were in Orlando where she could visit her grandchildren.

Wen is predeceased by her father John Hwa Fong, her mother, Ching Chin Yu Fong, her oldest sister, Sandy Lao, and her younger sister, Wendy Travers. She is survived by her younger sister Vivian Chi, her younger brother Andy Fong, her daughter Jennifer Kaufman, her older son Michael E. Gualtieri, her younger son Dr Marc R Gualtieri, and her grandchildren Tommy Kaufman, Caleb Gualtieri, Clara Gualtieri, as well as her husband Robert A Gualtieri.

Visitation is at McLaughlin Funeral Home, 1405 John Sims Pky Niceville, FL on November 21, 2025, 6-8pm. A Memorial Mass is at Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Church, 1028 White Pt Rd, Niceville, FL Nov 22, 2025 at 10am. Internment is at Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, FL at 10am Nov 24, 2025.