Thank Duong

Duong Ngoc Thanh, age 86, of Riverdale, Georgia passed away on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. He was preceded in death by his parents, Duong Van Chac and Huynh Thi De; his wife, Tran Thi Giang; his son, Duong Ngoc Dung; and his siblings. His siblings are Duong Van Khue, Duong Thi Lan, and Duong Thi De. He was the youngest of his siblings.

He was born in the district Cau Ngang of Tra Vinh province, Vietnam to a family of farmers. He worked as a teacher and as a police officer for the Republic of South Vietnam. He married Tran Thi Giang in 1962. His children are Duong Van Kinh, Duong Thi Ngoc Dieu, Duong Ngoc Dung, and Duong Thi Ngoc Thu.

After the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, the Communist government imprisoned him as they did many who served the Republic of South Vietnam. In prison, he faced countless hardships and abuse. After 6 rough years, he was released. With the help of his brother’s family, he took his oldest son (Kinh) and daughter (Dieu) to escape the country by boat. They spent two years in the Galang Refugee Camp in Indonesia. He intended to go to Sweden or Australia, where his brother’s family lives, but due to his service for the Republic of South Vietnam, he was required to go to the United States.

He and his two children arrived in the United States in 1987, and they settled in Boston, Massachusetts. He and his daughter moved to Oakland, California in 1990 and returned to Boston in 1995. Upon obtaining U.S. citizenship in 1996, he changed his name to Thank Duong to express his gratitude to this country for taking him in. In 2006, he moved to Riverdale, Georgia with his daughter and granddaughter, and he resided there since.

He was a very kind and caring father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Having lived a really hard life, he was never wasteful and reminded his family to be frugal and appreciative of what we have. He was able to live a very simple but fulfilled life in the United States. He had a love for flowers and gardening. He loved to read and listen to the radio. He loved cooking family meals until his old age prevented him from doing so.

Although he did not have many opportunities to travel for leisure, he had a love for traveling and especially enjoyed road trips. He crossed through several cities and states when he drove from Oakland, California to return to Boston, Massachusetts in 1995, a sole trip that he took in 3 days and 3 nights using a road atlas. He also passed through several cities and states when he, his daughter, and granddaughter moved from Boston, Massachusetts to Riverdale, Georgia in 2006. His leisure trips included trips to Niagara Falls, New York; Washington, D.C.; Pensacola, Florida; Chattanooga, Tennessee; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Jacksonville, Florida.

Those left to cherish his memories are his children: Kinh Duong (Dung Luong), Dieu Duong, and Thu Duong; grandchildren: Vincent Duong, Thao Duong (Nhan Nguyen), and Thuy An; many nieces and nephews; 3 great-grandchildren, and his precious dog named Luna.

He will be greatly missed by all who know and love him.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.taragardenchapelfuneralhome.com for the Duong family.