Ming, Johnny or John as he was known to many, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on February 1, 2018 in Watsonville, California, just 15 days short of his 95th birthday.
Ming was born and raised in a small village in Southern Guangzhou, China. Looking for a better life, he emigrated to the United States when he was just 15 years old, where he was interned for 6 months on Angel Island. Once he was released, he went to San Francisco and began taking classes to learn English and worked as a waiter to pay off debts he had acquired from his journey to “Gold Mountain” (California).
Eventually, Ming migrated down to Watsonville to begin a partnership at Daylite Market.
He saved his money with a goal of starting a family and buying land and starting his own business one day. When he was 24, he went back to China, met his first wife Janice, and brought her to the United States. Ming and Janice, who passed away in 1975, raised four children together.
In 1967, Ming would open his first grocery store, Freedom Foods in Freedom, California. He successfully operated and expanded this business for many years. He was a well-regarded businessman.
Ming is survived by his wife of over forty years, Lucy Ho; sons Henry, Raymond and Norman (Kathy); daughter Leslie; grandchildren Randall, Stephen, Stefanie, Ryan, Bryce, Marissa, Jenna and Lauren; great-grandchildren Owen, Ellie, MacKenzie, Giovanna, Kingsley, Merrick and Mira; and numerous nephews, nieces and extended family.
Ming will be sorely missed by his family and many others and his memory will not be forgotten for the love and kindness he has bestowed to so many.
A special thanks to the kindness of Dr. Christopher O’Grady and his staff; and his caregivers Stephanie and Maricel.
A rosary will be held February 9th at Holy Eucharist Catholic Community Church in Corralitos, California at 11 am. Funeral services will be conducted on February 11, 2018 at Green Street Mortuary, 649 Green Street, San Francisco at 12pm and internment will follow at the Chinese Cemetery, 4650 Callan Blvd., Daly City, California.
