Peter Chung Ping Chow

Peter was born in Beijing, China on November 9, 1948 to Drs. Thomas Chang Ming Chow and Rosemary Tung Chow. As a child of medical missionaries amidst politically tumultuous times, Peter lived an itinerant childhood, growing up in Chiayi, Taiwan and Benghazi, Libya.

Peter came to the United States at the age of 18 with nothing but a suitcase, to attend the University of South Carolina. Despite being possibly the only person in South Carolina in the mid 1960s who spoke Mandarin, French and Arabic, his university studies presented some challenges in that he didn’t actually speak English at the time.

Nevertheless, there was never a challenge that Peter would not take on head-to-head. He graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering (basically, he kept taking math classes until someone decided to give him a degree), and in the process, invented his own dialect of English with the help of his Southern brethren (basically English with a Chinese accent with a lot of twang and “y’alls”). Despite being born in Northern China, he liked to tell people that he was “Southern Chinese.”

His occupation was electrical transmission engineer for South Carolina Electric & Gas Company, a job he held from the time he graduated from USC until his retirement in 2017. Despite a career of more than 40 years, he was probably better known to many for his various hobbies, which included cooking, hosting dinner parties, winning cruise ship karaoke competitions, and arguing with the GPS.

More than anything, Peter was known as a family man. He found his greatest love on earth and married his wife, Muse, in 1979. Together, they would go on to forge a loving partnership that would last 42 years. Nothing gave him more joy than spending time with his family, and his grandchildren in particular. Peter lives on in spirit and in love through his wife, Muse Chow; his three sons and their spouses, Thomas and Calla Chow, Curtis and Renee Chow, and James and Rachael Chow; his six grandchildren, Charlotte Chow, David Nolan Chow, Camilla Chow, Emily Chow, Thomas Rex Chow, and Peter Caden Chow; his brother, Jim Chow; and his sister, Stella Chow.

To friends and family, Peter was known for being generous in every measure of the word. He cared for everyone around him, and devoted his time to ministering to their needs - whether through cooking, sharing his time, providing a sympathetic ear, lending support, or through his ministry and sharing the Gospel to the Chinese community.

Peter has fought the good fight, he has finished the race, and he has kept the faith. He has persevered, stood the test, and has received the crown of life. For this, and for all of the love and joy he has provided to us in this life, we are truly thankful.

Interment will be private and a memorial service will be held at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church on Monday, September 13, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Peter may be made to St. Andrews Presbyterian Church.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com