Joseph Hong Phung

He was born October 2, 1940 in Binh Cang, a rural district of Vietnam and was the seventh of eight children. He was an elementary school teacher at an all boys' school before he was called to serve in the military for a number of years. He was then employed by the United States Embassy, where he worked as an interpreter and also the Branch Chief of a unit of the base personnel office. In the Spring of 1975, he, along with his wife and four (and one on the way) young children, fled Vietnam to escape the takeover of the Communist regime and start over in America.

Montgomery, Alabama was where he resided and called home for 47 years until his death. He was a dedicated Husband, Father, and friend who worked for many years as a supervisor in the shipping department for Montgomery Food Processors, a meat processing plant, which later became Lorenz International. It made him very happy to bring home steaks at the end of the week for his family to literally enjoy the fruits of his labor.

He was a devout Catholic and was a lifelong parishioner at St. Bede Catholic Church, where he also served as a Deacon. He devoted much of his free time to serving and volunteering. His presence was known at St. John the Baptist soup kitchen, nursing homes, and by the many fellow Vietnamese immigrants he helped in the church and community. He was an optimist who never met a stranger.

Like Saint Peter, Joseph loved to fish, and he often posed for the camera with his big catch and an even bigger smile. It was perhaps his favorite hobby over the course of his life, as he not only found immense joy and peace in the activity itself, but he also gained great satisfaction knowing this was another way he could provide for his family.

Joseph was an avid reader and writer, who loved to send handwritten letters to friends and family. He was a gifted storyteller whose quick wit and sense of humor was often subtle but came through in his writings and journals.

While he would say his biggest accomplishment was raising his five children, it was perhaps becoming a "Papa" to his 12 grandchildren that brought him the most joy in his older years. He was so loved and will be missed by those who knew him.

He is survived by Maria, his devoted wife of 58 years, his children, Vinh Phung of Oklahoma City, Hope (Steve) Creason of Kennesaw GA, Chris (Clare) Phung of Montgomery AL, Anna (Adam) Griffin of Marietta GA, his 12 grandchildren: Joanna, Grace, Lance, Jake, Nate, Julie, Emmy, Jack, Bo, Will, Elias, and Olivia, and his dog Murphy. He is preceded in death by his parents Bo and Bach Phung, and his daughter Tam Phung.

Matthew 11:28-30. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Visitation will be held at St. Bede's Catholic Church Friday, December 16, 2022 from 11:30am-1pm, followed by a funeral mass at 1pm. Graveside service to follow at Greenwood Cemetery.

Flowers are welcomed and we would ask for them to be sent to the church.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.WhiteChapel-GreenwoodFH.com for the Phung family.