Kow Ching

Kow (Victor) Ching was born in Guangdong in June 1928. When he was six months old, his family emigrated to South Africa and settled in Johannesburg. When he was 12 years old his father passed away with pneumonia and his mother Low Kwaai Chee raised him and his younger sister Alice on her own.

He schooled at the Johannesburg Chinese School and went on to study bookkeeping. He developed a passion for Chinese philosophies and poetry and progressed to studying Chinese classical texts, in particular The Four Books which covers the core values and belief systems in Confucianism. These were to deeply influence his life.

He was a family man. He married Mabel his sweetheart when he was 20 and they were inseparable soulmates for 68 years. They had 3 daughters and a son: Maureen, Loraine, Alan and Linda respectively.

Victor had started a hardware wholesaler business soon after marriage but after having had their 4 children, the youngest not even a year old, he contracted meningitis and was in hospital for 8 months. The business suffered and had to be closed down. The young family suffered tremendous hardship during this time.

Fortunately, after surgery he made a full recovery. Victor and Mabel restarted with a small retail hardware business and it is a testimony to their determination, cooperation and hard work that they endured through thick and thin ensuring that their children were given the best private education that they could afford.

In 1997 Victor and Mabel followed Loraine’s family and immigrated into Canada and settled in Port Coquitlam, Vancouver. Maureen and Linda soon followed. His son Alan and his family settled in London in the United Kingdom.

He was a passionate photographer and was greatly interested in the art of composition. Often he would have his camera bag with him, ready for any opportunity to take a picture. In Coquitlam he enthusiastically volunteered to be the events photographer at the S.U.C.C.E.S.S foundation a Canadian social services organization headquartered in Vancouver for many years.

He was also a keen gardener; evident in the variety of plants and flowers he cultivated throughout his lifetime. He appreciated the delicate beauty of flowers and his favourites were carnations, roses and chrysanthemums and would photograph them. He generously gave plants and sapling flowers to his friends and family.

He was a formidable Chinese Chess player and was always game for a match. He was an avid reader on his fields of interest and kept up to date with the news. He was practically minded and forward-thinking in dispensing with tradition and superstition.

Many of you would have been touched by his friendship and generosity. He was a man of strong principles, who was talkative but gentle, even-tempered and faithful family man.

He will be sorely missed by his wife Mabel and family:

Maureen, Raymond & Carina;

Loraine, Keith, Tracey & Shawn, Shannan & Boris & Shai;

Alan, Miranda, Jared and Meryl and

Linda, Nicole & Joel.

Viewing at 10h30 and memorial service: at 11am on Monday, February 20th , 2017, to be held at Burkeview Chapel, 1340 Dominion Avenue, Port Coquitlam, V3B 8G7, BC with viewing from 10h30.

In lieu of flowers, donations with appreciation can be made to Eagle Ridge Manor at www.erhf.ca