Benjamin Wong's Obituary
Present with The Lord: August 17, 2020
Benjamin “Ben” Wong was born to David and Yau Ling Wong on July 27, 1934 in Nogales, AZ. At an early age, he moved with his family to Canton, China, but because of WWII, the family moved back to the US.
He grew up in the Oakland Bay Area where he met his wife, Miriam “Mel” Fong at the Chinese Independent Baptist Church in Oakland, CA. Ben and Mel married on August 25, 1957 and spent their honeymoon driving to Texas - their honeymoon suite was their pup tent at various national parks. Ben attended Dallas Theological Seminary where he served as class treasurer in his senior year and graduated with a Master of Theology. He happened to be the first Chinese American to graduate from DTS.
In 1961, Ben and Mel returned to the Bay Area to serve at Oakland Chinese Bible Church. In 1963, Ben was ordained and commissioned by the Chinese Bible Evangel to start a church in San Francisco, which became the San Francisco Bible Church. To support his family and the church, Ben concurrently worked for EBMUD as a surveyor and water meter reader. More recently, Ben served as the English pastor at the Chinese Community Church in San Francisco.
Ben loved to study the Bible and loved his Lord. This passionate pursuit for God excited a deep desire to inspire others to pursue after God. Consequently, many young people went to Bible School to learn more about God and to grow in their understanding and love toward God. He felt, as Apostle John did, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth.” (III John verse 4)
Ben is also fondly remembered for his love of travel and an evening bowl of ice cream. God showed Ben and Mel the wonders, beauty, and majestic variety of His Creation -- be it grand, glorious mountains, waterfalls, deserts, seas, beautiful and delicate flowers, birds, stars, gorgeous sunsets and sunrises, the Northern lights, etc. -- everything to marvel at His wisdom, creativity, and greatness. From the southernmost city, Ushuaia, Argentina and Cape Horn to the northernmost city, North Cape, Norway, God led them.
Despite his cancer diagnosis in 2012, God granted Ben eight additional years to travel and share God’s truths. He died peacefully in his sleep on August 17, 2020. He is survived by his loving wife Mel, his children: BethAnn Villareal (Brad), Janelle, David (Debbie) and Trina Young (Kyle), and grandchildren: Mikhaila, Justin, Philip, Abigail, Daniel, Rachel, Caleb, James, Paul, Sarah, and John.
An online memorial service will be announced.
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