William George Fong

William George Fong passed away peacefully early on Saturday, August 31. George was born to Sin Yah Fong (father) and Chao Sin Hwa (mother) on December 12, 1936 in Shanghai, China. He lost his father at a very young age and he and his beloved mother (known as Bubu to many) left China in 1949 with relatives and after a time in Hong Kong eventually settled in Sao Paulo. Those relatives were George’s uncle Tze Yen Fong and aunt Grace Fong and their children: David, Diana, Elizabeth, Lily, Loretta, and Vivian. His loving and generous uncle and aunt arranged for him to attend prep school and then college in the United States.

He met the true love of his life, Wilma (Ting), in Sao Paulo and they were engaged there in 1963 and married in Tallahassee on June 15, 1964. He had moved to Tallahassee after graduate school at the University of Florida to take a job as a chemist with the Florida Department of Agriculture. In 1970 they adopted their son Billy (William George Fong Jr.). George was a devoted son and moved his mother (Bubu) from Sao Paulo in 1973 to live with them, where she remained until her passing. He was also a devout Catholic and a member of the Blessed Sacrament congregation since moving to Tallahassee.

George had an accomplished career with the State of Florida, but his true passion was behind the lens of a camera. For most of his life he was often found photographing those around him as well as the beauty of nature. After retiring he would spend many days photographing wildlife — birds, manatees, butterflies — found at Wakulla Springs or St. Marks.

George and Wilma moved to Westminster Oaks in 2013 and given Wilma’s gregarious and vivacious personality, they soon found that they had a new, bigger family in those that they met. After her passing in 2016, he committed himself to assisting others around the community and won the Volunteer of the Year award in 2019. Until he moved to the assisted living facility he was the unofficial photographer for Westminster Oaks and took portraits of all the new residents.

He will always be remembered for his patience, compassion, creativity, and calm demeanor. His was a life well-lived as a devoted husband, son, father, friend and colleague and he will be missed.

The family wishes to thank the Westminster Oaks community for the year of caring and support they provided George and Wilma while living there as well as Big Bend Hospice. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to these organizations. A memorial is being planned for later this fall at Westminster Oaks.

A funeral mass for William will be held Thursday, September 5, 2024 from 12:15 PM to 1:15 PM at Blessed Sacrament Church, 624 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32308. A burial following the service will occur at Culley's MeadowWood Memorial Park, 700 Timberlane Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32312.