Edwin Wong

Edwin Wong

Loving husband of Peggy, father to Christine Babarovich (Corey) and Larry, and doting grandfather to Amy Wong, died at home in Oakland on February 17, 2013 surrounded by his family.

Ed was born in San Francisco on November 1, 1924 to Man Yin Wong and Loui Shee. He received an early education in China until the Japanese invasion and returned home to the U.S. where he enrolled in Francisco Jr High and Galileo High.

With the onset of WWII, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was trained as a gunner with the 861st Bombardment Squadron, participating in many air offensives over continental Europe.

He met and married his wife Peggy in 1954, and in 1956, he earned a BS degree at U.C. Berkeley in Business Administration. His business pursuits spanned the S.F. Bay Area and Sacramento. After a trip to China in 1972, Ed relished researching Chinese newspapers to find new areas of the China that were being opened for visitors, so he and Peggy could be among the first to visit. They took over ten trips with friends and family in the following years. As well, they enjoyed trips throughout the U.S., Europe and Peru.

After the Chinese Culture Center was founded, Ed enjoyed participating in various lecture series on China. He also assisted when the Guangdong Chinese Opera Troupe came to perform at the Orpheum. He also led docent tours of Chinatown.

After a private celebration of Life service, the family, relatives and friends, gathered at the Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland on Tuesday, March 5 to witness the inurnment of his ashes at the Altar of Reflection, East 10 #4. Our family is grateful to Kaiser's Hospice Team of Alameda County and homecare givers Robin Simms and Zubeda Khamis for their professionalism. In memory of Ed, the family requests that donations be made to Chinese Culture Center, 750 Kearny St. SF, CA 94108 or Chinese YMCA, 855 Sacramento St. SF, CA 94108.