Vernon Chung Hoo Chang

weeks shy of his 101st birthday. Vernon was the last surviving child of Dai Hew and Ma Shee

Chang.

Vernon met the love of his life Betty Yamashiro at the library while they were both attending the

University of Hawaii. They were married in 1952 and they raised their two children, Michael

and Lori in Aiea. Vernon and Betty shared more than 71 years together enjoying their extended

families, neighbors, travel, fishing, reading, gardening, and spending time with friends.

Vernon made a career of helping young people struggling in the juvenile justice system first as a

probation officer and ultimately as the Administrator of the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility

in Kailua.

Vernon became an integral part of Betty’s extended family of 9 siblings, numerous cousins,

nieces and nephews who he adopted as if they were his own children.

Vernon was preceded in death by his mother, Ma Shee, his father, Dai Hew Chang, his children

Michael and Lori, his sisters Ruth and Alice, his brothers Pon (Pat), Joe and Walter; his in-laws

Shizuko and Charles Nakamoto, James and Adele Onaga , Lillian and Paul Nakanishi, Sue and

Kiyoshi Higa, Gayle and Fred Gilbert, John Meyer, James Higa, Stanley Teruya and Bernard

Matano.

Vernon is survived by his wife Betty, granddaughter Elizabeth Colson, son-in-law Philip Colson,

sisters-in-law Wilma Chang, Alma Chang-Lum, Midori Matano, Sets Teruya, Tomi Higa and

many nieces and nephews.