Nghi Huu Vuong

Nghi was born on September 15, 1941 in the Vỉnh-Lợi district of Bạc-Liêu in Vietnam. He is the second child, and second son of Vương Văn Sáng and Ngô Thị Chử.

Nghi served in the South Vietnamese Air Force from the mid 1960’s to the mid 1970’s and rose to the rank of Major (Thiếu-Tá). Nghi is a hero to his parents, siblings, as well as his own family for being an integral part of their exodus from Saigon as it fell to the North Vietnamese in 1975. Nghi put his family on a flight to nearby Côn Sơn Island to seek refuge while he stayed behind to help more families. Nghi’s final mission was on April 29, 1975 when he secured a Douglas C-47 Skytrain, which had been damaged by enemy fire the previous day. He piloted this aircraft to transport fifty-seven military personnel and their families from Tân Sơn Nhất Airbase in Saigon to U Tapao Airbase in Thailand to seek asylum. Nghi reunited with his family in Guam shortly after and immigrated to the US. Nghi’s siblings have routinely boasted that he is their savior because he made possible the lives that they enjoy with their families.

Nghi would be described by his family and friends as an avid fisherman. Whether on a lake or along a beach, Nghi had the perfect fishing gear to make the great catch. After retirement, Nghi could be found daily at Mary Jo Peckham Park in Katy, Texas where he shared his love for fishing with everyone. He was generous with his catch, meticulously preparing the fish and saving it for his family and friends. Nghi was a volunteer park ranger who held classes for children to learn to fish, and he was always happy to share his lures and techniques to help others fishing at the park.

Nghi took pride in his large family and would move heaven and earth for them. Nghi travelled the world but always returned home quickly to be close to his family. Nghi taught himself to make furniture, sew clothing and make toys for his children. Nghi’s grandchildren always knew that a Honey Bun was waiting for them at grandpa’s house.

Mr. Nghi Huu Vuong was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Vương Thị Liễu; brother, Vương Hữu Trí; nephews, Dung (Roger) Do and Chi (Jim) Do.

He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Lê Thị Ngọc Lan; children, Giao Tran and husband Thanh, Anh Moll and husband Horst, Phong Vuong and wife Lorraine, Van Vuong and wife Muy, Thanh Strubhar and husband Joe, Kim Ngan Blakeman and husband Benton; grandchildren, Andrew Tran, Emily Tran, Taylor Vuong, Max Vuong, Emi Vuong, Kai Vuong, Nathan Vuong, Natalie Vuong, Binh Strubhar, Athena Moll, Canh Strubhar, Brayden Blakeman; and a host of siblings, nephews, nieces, family and friends.

The Vương Hữu Nghi family would like to give a special thanks to the Houston Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center who took great care of him in his final days helping him rest in peace.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.memorialoaksfunerals.com for the Vương Hữu Nghi family.