George Ray WONG

WONG, George Ray
Longtime local businessman and community supporter, George R. Wong, who, along with his family, founded Bel Air Markets, died November 6, 2011. He was 87. Throughout his life, he was admired as a gentle and kind man.

George was born August 10, 1924, in Placer County, where he spent his childhood and with his siblings worked in his parents' farming business, growing and selling produce. He attended schools in Penryn and Sacramento, and graduated from Sacramento High School, the California School of Real Estate and Heald Business College.

His first venture in the supermarket business was in Sacramento in 1948. In 1955, he, along with his father Gim Wong, his brothers Bill, Gene, Al, Paul, and sister Lil, founded Bel Air Markets.

He served as a Director Emeritus of the Western Association of Food Chains and the Bank of Sacramento; Director of the Food Marketing Institute, Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Sacramento Safety Council; and, Chairman of the Northern California Grocer's Association and the California Grocer's Association.

In 1987, Bel Air received a Presidential Citation Award for Private Sector Initiatives for its community involvement. Mr. Wong was honored to accept the award at the White House from President Ronald Reagan for establishing the 'Bel Air Fund for the Hungry and Homeless,' a permanent endowment fund to help the needy in the Sacramento area.

In 1995, Mr. Wong reached a milestone of '40 Years of Caring' as President of Bel Air Markets - 37 years with the Wong Family ownership and three years after Raley's acquisition of Bel Air in 1992. Under his leadership, Bel Air Markets exemplified its motto of 'The Stores That Care' and continues that proud tradition today.

George is survived by his loving wife, Nancy, and had resided in Rocklin for the past 15 years, close to his childhood home.

Married twice before, he was divorced from his first wife Mary Ryan, and his second wife, Koreena Williams. He had 4 children during his first marriage.

He will be deeply missed by his entire family including his wife Nancy and George's brother Gene and wife Fannie; sister Lillie; brother Al and wife Gloria; sister Evel and husband Tom; brother Paul and wife Helen; sister Nellie; sister Betty and husband Hank; and sister-in-law Tina;his children: son Terry and wife Dee; daughter Lauren; and son Gordon and wife Taeko. He also leaves step-children Kimberly and husband Tony Napolitano and Wesley Beach; grandchildren Mark and wife Michelle, Kim, Derek, Julianne, Nathan, Sarahanne, Marianne, Michael, Tyler, and Carson; step-grandchildren Anthony and Adrianna; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his daughter Susan and also his parents Gim and Lee Shee Wong, uncle June Git Lee Wong, brothers Bill and Raney, brother-in-law Bob, and sister-in-law Edith.

The Wong Family wants to express their sincere thanks to Doctor Monice Kwok forher loving care of George for almost 30 years. The Wong Family would also like to thank Jack Lassner for being a dear friend and attorney to George for so many years as well as Lynn Fuller, George's 'personal banker.'George is survived by so many dear family and friends to include Janet Novak and Harry Wortman.

Family and friends are invited for memorial services Friday, December 2 at 10:30AM in the Adventure Church located at 6401 Stanford Ranch Rd, Roseville, CA, with a reception immediately following.

George had a strong interest with invention and in supporting the Greater Sacramento area community. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in honor of George R. Wong to the Sacramento Powerhouse Science Center (also known as the Discovery Museum Science & Space Center, 3615 Auburn Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95821).