Dolores Wong

Dolores Wong was born in Vallejo, California on September 24, 1921. She passed away on November 23 peacefully in her sleep. She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, the Honorable Delbert E. Wong. She is survived by children Shelley (the Reverend Tyrone Pitts); Duane (Joanne); Kent (Jai); and Marshall; grandsons Sandy Pitts, Ryan and Robin Wong.

Dolores was a fourth-generation Californian whose great-grandfather arrived in San Francisco in 1852. She was the first person in her family to attend college, graduating from U.C. Berkeley in 1942 and receiving a Master's Degree from Smith College in 1946.

Dolores worked as a psychiatric social worker in Boston, New Orleans, and Sacramento until the birth of her children. She became a full-time mother but invested many years in community volunteer activities. Her happiest and most satisfying contribution was to help fund and establish the first public library in Los Angeles Chinatown.

Honors received during her lifetime include awards from the YWCA, Organization of Chinese Americans, Asian Pacific Women's Network, Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Chinatown Public Safety Association, and Friends of the Chinese American Museum. Friends wishing to honor her memory may contribute to Friends of the Chinatown Library, Asian Americans Advancing Justice-LA, Chinese American Museum, or the East-West Players.

A celebration of her life will be held at Forest Lawn, Glendale in the Chapel of the Recessional, 1712 S. Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91205 on Friday, November 28 at 1:30 p.m. (doors open at 1 p.m.) A simple meal will be served immediately afterwards in Chinatown.