Wing Fung Fong

Wing Fung Fong, Beloved Father, Grandfather, and Restaurateur, 1937-2025

Wing Fung Fong, a cherished father, grandfather, and long-time community pillar, passed away on January 16, 2025, at the age of 87. Born in a coastal village in the Pearl River Delta of China on March 16, 1937, Wing Fung’s journey was one of resilience, ambition, and unwavering devotion to his family.

At the age of 18, his father, Kee-Gong Fong, who had worked in the United States, sent Wing Fung to Hong Kong to study civil engineering. Although he worked for several years as a foreman in construction, in 1966, he followed a new opportunity to the United States, beginning a new chapter in Sacramento, California. After a brief stint as a dishwasher, he faced a setback when he lost the job to a relative of the restaurant owner. Undeterred, Wing Fung moved to Southern Oregon, where a friend helped him find work as a cook at Kim’s Restaurant in Medford. This was the beginning of his lifelong connection to the area, where he would settle, raise his family, and build a future.

For several years, Wing Fung worked tirelessly in the kitchen at Kim’s, eventually saving enough to help open the Colony Far East Restaurant in Medford. It was here that he would begin to build a name for himself. During the years he spent apart from his future wife, who was still in China, he sent one-third of his paycheck back home to support her and her family, waiting for the day they could be together. Thanks to President Nixon’s historic Ping Pong diplomacy in 1973, he was able to travel to Hong Kong, where he married the love of his life, Yuen Kuen (Wendy) Fong. Their union lasted more than 50 years, a testament to their deep bond and devotion.

Upon returning to the U.S., Wing Fung sold his share in Colony Far East and opened the China Hut Restaurant in Grants Pass in 1974. The China Hut became a staple of the community, operating for more than 18,000 days, closing only for three days during the COVID-19 pandemic and two weeks for a remodel. Over the years, Wing Fung expanded his restaurant ventures to Medford, Crescent City, and even San Francisco, but the heart of his business remained in Grants Pass.

Known for his tireless work ethic, Wing Fung continued to greet customers, manage his restaurants, and support his family until health issues prevented him from working last year. A proud sponsor of many families who immigrated to the United States, he helped others pursue the American Dream with the same determination that had guided his own journey.

Outside of work, Wing Fung had a love for life’s simple pleasures. He enjoyed fishing, playing video poker, and spending time at 7 Feathers Casino, where he was often found enjoying a round of three-card poker. He also had a penchant for driving fast, always behind the wheel of American-made cars, and had a particular fondness for Hennessy. 

Yet, his greatest pride was his family. He adored his wife, Wendy, and was deeply proud of his two sons, Kenton (Belmont, CA) and Benton (Portland, OR), both of whom he was quick to boast were Stanford University graduates and doctors. His five grandchildren, Marcus, Carson, Penelope, Korbin, and Eden, were his joy and his legacy.

Wing Fung is survived by his loving wife, Yuen Kuen (Wendy) Fong, his two sons, Kenton and Benton, his brother Wing Yuie Fong (San Jose, CA), and his five beloved grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 10:30 AM at Stephens Family Chapel in Grants Pass. The China Hut will be closed for the day in his honor, but will reopen Sunday, just the way he would have wanted it—welcoming all with the same warmth and hospitality he shared throughout his life.