Phillip Jack “PJ” Wong, 57, of Waller, formerly of Nederland, died Sunday, June 22, 2014. He was born on April 11, 1957, in Cleveland, Mississippi, to the happy Wong family led by God-honoring parents, Jack Hing Wong and Mah Shee Wong.
Eager to learn from the time he was knee-high, he attended Cleveland schools. Phillip graduated Salutatorian from Cleveland High School Class of 1975, and pursued further education at Ole Miss, where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering.
He accepted a job with Mobil Oil Company, and moved to Beaumont in July 1979. He gave his commitment to the company and traveled through several stations, including Saudi Arabia and France in fulfillment of his duties as an engineer. He retired from ExxonMobil in 2014, after thirty-five years of faithful service.
Phillip and Lorna built their dream retirement home in Magnolia, where they enjoyed the peace and quiet of a country setting in the last few weeks of his earthly life. Many times Phillip exclaimed “happy wife; happy life!” He always attended to Lorna and her needs. They took several vacations including Boston, Maine, Vermont, and other places in the United States, as well as abroad in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and many other countries.
Phillip is survived by his beloved wife of fifteen years, Lorna Austria-Wong; brothers, Richard Jack Wong and his wife, Shirley, of Dallas and Jack Hing Wong, Jr. and his wife, Lenee, of Beaumont; sister, Patricia Jack Wong Wolf and her husband, Otto, of Cleveland, Mississippi; nephews, Trey Wong and his wife, Hillary; Trevor Wong; Trent Wong; and Troy Wong, all of Beaumont; and Matthew Wong of Dallas; and many lifelong friends. He will especially be missed by his loving dogs, Kikko and Gabe.
Phillip is preceded in death by his father and mother; brother, William Jack Wong; and sister, Gardenia Evelyn Wong-Hermann.
Phillip loved his Creator, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and gave a testimony to God’s goodness with his life and works. During his illness he found time to remember and pray for his caregivers, friends, and acquaintances, who were battling illness.
He will be terribly missed by all. As one family member stated upon hearing of Phillip’s passing, “We are all poorer today.”
He touched many lives and left a legacy of God, family, country, work, and learning that will live on.
A gathering of Mr. Wong’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., with his Rosary recited at 6:00 p.m., Thursday, June 26, 2014, at Broussard’s, 505 North 12th Street, Nederland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Friday, June 27, 2014, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 211 Hardy Avenue, Nederland, with his committal to follow at 4:00 p.m., at Klein Memorial Park, 14711 FM 1488, Magnolia.
