Walton Y.C. Gaw

He was born in Kaiping, Canton, China in 1930. There he met and married his wife, Mei Yee, in 1949 and shortly after his daughter, Won, was born. Then he immigrated to the United States in 1950 to join his father in establishing a new life for his family. After several years apart from his wife and daughter, they would reunite again in 1956 in Houston, and 2 years later his mother and brother also followed them. Soon after, Walton and Mei Yee re-established their new life and grew their family with the birth of their other children, Herbert, Judy, and Wilson. To support his family, Walton, his wife, and his father owned and operated their first grocery store on Jensen Drive. Years later, Walton and Mei Yee moved on to open Lincoln City Supermarket in Acres Homes and would continue to work long hours every day for 35 years until their retirement in 1991 in order to ensure a better life for their children.

During the prime of his life, Walton was one of the founding members of Chinese American Citizen Alliance – Houston Lodge. He also served as past president, vice president, and treasurer of the Gor’s Family Association. Additionally, he served as the Honorary Harris County Deputy Sheriff in 1965 and as the Honorary Harris County Deputy Constable Precinct 1 in 1980. Finally, one of his proudest accomplishments was seeing his vision of building a new school for grades 1-12 in his hometown of Kaiping come to life through his generosity and donations with the money he earned in America.

Throughout his life, Walton and his wife enjoyed to cook for their family and friends, entertaining countless people as he welcomed them as part of his family. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, boating, target shooting, and gardening. During the years following his retirement, he enjoyed traveling, performing handiwork for his wife and children, and caring for his grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Han Chu and Yuet Sheung Wong Gaw and his beloved wife of 73 years, Mei Yee Gaw. He is survived by his brother Allen Gaw; daughter Won Pang (Harry), son Herbert Gaw (Mary), daughter Judy Gaw (Andrew), and son Wilson Gaw (Trudy); grandchildren Bryan Gaw, Erin Chow (Douglas), Kristin Gaw (Peter), Tiffany Lai (Jonathan), Ryan Pang (Erica), Christopher Gaw (Melissa), and Melissa Wong; great grandchildren Harper Chow, Ethan Chow, Emerson Chow, Claire Luong, Jackson Lai and Reid Pang; nephew Jonathan Gaw (Tiffany), niece Lauren Gaw, and grandnephew Theodore Gaw.

The Gaw family sincerely appreciates all of our extended family and friends for their expressions of love through prayer, encouragement, and support.