Richard Ryan Wong

Richard Ryan Wong (Lt. Col., USAF retired), affectionately known as "Papa", passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 1, 2022 at the age of 91. Richard was diagnosed 25 years ago with Inclusion Body Myositis, a very rare condition causing progressive muscle weakness and damage. Throughout his struggle with the disease, he maintained an extraordinarily positive outlook on life, punctuated by his trademark humor and good nature.

Richard was born on a salmon cannery tender boat on the Columbia River near Astoria, Oregon on July 19, 1931 to Jue Shee and Kee Brown Wong. After graduating from Astoria High School in 1949, he attended Oregon State University, earning a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1953. Afterward, he received an M.S. in EE and an MBA. To this day, he and four of his brothers hold the record for the number of siblings having graduated from the OSU School of Engineering.

Upon graduation from OSU and from the USAF ROTC program, Richard joined the Air Force and was stationed at Laon-Athies Air Base in France. In 1956, while visiting Brussels, Belgium, he met the love of his life, Marcelle Casterman, and they married in March 1957. For the next few decades, they traveled the world together, the family moving every three years as Richard's responsibilities as an intelligence officer grew. His final assignment was at the Pentagon where he analyzed Chinese and Russian armed forces capabilities and developed USAF policy positions on US defense initiatives.

Placing his family above all else, he retired from the Air Force in 1971 and moved home to the Pacific Northwest rather than spend three more years at the Pentagon. After retirement he started several small businesses in the service and real estate industries in Bremerton, WA. He and Marcelle made their last move to San Antonio in August 1992 to be closer to their grandchildren.

Richard is predeceased by his parents; his wife of 61 years, Marcelle; his daughter-in-law, Susan Koger Wong; brothers Yen Wong, Phil Brown, and Calvin Brown; and sister, Betty Miller.

He is survived by his daughter, Danielle Pietro (Richard) of Sanilhac-Sagriès, France; his sons, Barclay (Tamara), of Brentwood, TN and Chris of San Antonio, TX; his grandchildren Maurianne Pietro-Sinicco (Stefano), Roxane Pietro, Nicholas Wong (Heather), and Elizabeth Wong; his great-grandsons Edward Sinicco and Leon Donovan Wong; as well as his brothers Fred Brown and Thomas Wong. sister Mabel Mendoza, and dozens of nieces and nephews.

Special thanks are given to his son, Chris, who spent the past seven years compassionately caring for both Marcelle and Richard in their aging years. A private gathering for family and close friends will be held at Richard's house.

Now, in the lyrics Papa often sang, "Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think. Enjoy yourself, while you're still in the pink. The years go by, as quickly as a wink. Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself, it's later than you think!"