Wayne is survived by his four children, Lester, Audrey, Elizabeth and David, and his five siblings who reside in Burnaby, the greater Toronto area and Philadelphia. He is preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Ying Ying Chow who passed away in 2012.
Wayne was born in 1937 in Hoiping, Guangdong to Chow Yin Hay and Wu Yook Choy. He moved to Canada at age 12 and attended J. Lloyd Crowe Secondary School in Trail, BC, and went on to study chemistry at UBC in Vancouver, BC and at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. He then started a lifelong career working in the pulp and paper industry. Wayne met Ying Ying through his younger sister in Hong Kong, and they eventually married in 1964. They originally settled together in Wayne’s hometown Trail, and later moved to Vancouver in search of a better life. Shortly after relocating to Vancouver, Wayne began working at MacMillan Bloedel as a researcher and analyst. Over the years, he and Ying Ying also owned several grocery store businesses together. His children remember him as a very hard working man and a provider to his extended family, and as a father who supported them to pursue their goals.
Wayne loved spending time with his family and spoiling his eight grandchildren, whom he loved dearly. He enjoyed traveling the world, visiting with his siblings, going on cruises with friends and ballroom dancing. In his spare time, he enjoyed watching Canucks hockey games, playing mahjong and listening to Chinese opera. Wayne’s passion for ballroom dancing prompted him and Ying Ying to form a seniors dancing group at their local community centre, which they led to the benefit of their community for more than a decade.
A funeral service is scheduled for 9:30 am PST on December 17, 2020 at Ocean View Funeral Home in Burnaby, BC. Celebrant Kevin Leung will officiate the ceremony, which will only be available for viewing via a livestream link. All are welcome to attend online and celebrate Wayne's life, by contacting the funeral home for the livestream link.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Pancreatic Cancer Canada. Information on how to make a donation, may be found at this link:
https://pancreaticcancercanada.ca/.
Our family would like to thank the caregivers at ABC Home Support and the hospital staff at Vancouver General Hospital, for their incredible care of our beloved father and grandfather.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18