Thomas was born in Canton China on November 17, 1937, and came to the United States when he was nine years old. His adopted parents William and Katherine Wong raised him in Fresno, California, where attended Central Union High School and graduated in 1956. Shortly after graduation, Thomas proudly joined the Navy aboard the U.S.S. Kearsarge.
After the military, Thomas married his beautiful bride, Gina Wong, in 1962, with whom he shared 56 beautiful years building a large and loving family before her passing in May of 2021. Always a family man, in 1965, Thomas helped open Wong‘s Food Mart with his father, William Wong, and his uncle, Jack Wong.
Thomas enjoyed playing mah-jong with friends, going to the nursery with his son-in-law Randal, going on weekly drives with his granddaughter Taylor and her husband Oswaldo, and of course, stopping at Dutch Bros. He also enjoyed watching his grandson Cameron play baseball, his granddaughter Goryn play soccer, and his grandson Kellen play basketball.
Thomas loved going to the Chinese New Year dinners in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and in Fresno, and as soon he knew the dates, he would call Kevin and Cynthia Hodge to let them know exactly when they were going to be traveling for these dinners. He loved watching sports, the cooking channel, and his favorite was watching the exercise channel with his eyes closed, thinking that he was exercising.
Thomas will be remembered for his wry sense of humor, his shenanigans, and his little play bickering with the girls, Brittany Knight (Alligator) and Brianna Martinez (Choo-Choo). He'll also be remembered for calling the grandkids, saying, “Nei Hou Ma” (“How are you?”) and an “I love you.”, and with Zooey and Ava Martinez, he would call, say “Zou San” (“Good Morning”) just to say what he needed to say and then hang up without saying goodbye.
Thomas is survived by his children; daughter, Nanette and her husband Randal Hernandes, his son Kent and his wife Audrey Wong, and his daughter Janette Wong. He is also survived by his loving grandchildren; Taylor and her husband Oswaldo Reyes, grandsons Cameron Hernandes and Kellen Wong, and granddaughters Suwaine Manning, Goryn Wong, and Roxy Wong.
Thomas is also survived by his siblings; brothers Fred and wife Doris Wong, Wally Wong, and Benny Wong; Sister-in-law Linda Wong, and sisters Patricia Wong and Isabella Au. He is also survived by niece Jessica and her husband William Law, and nephews Dr. Steve Wong and his wife Cece, and Dr. Edward Wong and his wife Michelle.
Thomas is preceded in death by his parents, William D. Wong and Katherine C. Wong, as well as Yuen Kow Wong, Ling Tai Wong, Gina Wong, his brother Chun Wah Wong and his wife May Yen Wong, his brother Chun Dai Wong, brother James Wong, his brother-in-law Randal Au, his sister-in-law Barbara Wong, as well as niece Shannon Wong Langlo.
Our family would like to extend sincere thanks to Brittany Knight and Brianna Martinez for the exceptional care that they have provided for our parents over the last 10 years.
