Alma Tek Ying Wu

Alma has lived an extremely full life, one full of love and overflowing with amazing experiences. She was born on September 9th, 1921 in China to Wu Pei Ching and Sau Yuk, and was the eldest of five siblings. Clearly the apple of her father's eye, Alma lived a privileged and carefree youth. While she had plenty of fun and many outside interests, education was always extremely important to her. She proudly graduated from Soo Chow University with a Bachelor's degree in Economics. The Communist Occupation of Shanghai in 1952 led her to Hong Kong. It is in Hong Kong, where Alma blossomed and flourished, and where she laid the foundation for what can be considered one of the most interesting and distinguished lives. Alma was fiercely independent and was born with a unique spark. In Hong Kong, she worked for the HK Telephone Company and took on many different independent business ventures, including opening up her own boutique shop - The China Doll.

In addition to being a career woman, she was also a single mother who raised three children on her own - Teresa, Frances and Andrew. Sadly, Teresa, her eldest, passed away at the age of 16. Alma immigrated to the United States in 1967 to start a new life. It was here the stylish Alma opened another boutique, the Exotica on Balboa Island, which she ran for twelve years. Alma was always artistic, creative and funny, and this was never expressed more acutely than in her hobbies. She became an accomplished home chef after not ever having to prepare a meal in Shanghai or Hong Kong. She made her own jewelry, quilted and had a knack for making anything grow in her garden. In her golden years, she even took up tap dancing and had a performance at the Senior Center for family and friends. Alma's sense of humor can best be defined by her favorite television shows - Colombo and I love Lucy. Many believe that Alma's sense of humor and theatrics were not unlike Lucy herself! In addition to her humor, her charismatic personality allowed her to make life-long friends wherever she went, whether it be Balboa Island, the Bluffs, or Far East Mansion.

Always open to new experiences and learning new skills, Alma enrolled in a writing course at the Literacy Program in Newport Beach in 1995. Her life already read like a fascinating novel, and six short years after enrolling in the writing course, she completed her memoir in 2001 - Tiger in a Cage. Alma has lived a blessed life. She has been blessed with good health, a strong family and a full circle of friends. She will be remembered as a beautiful and charming woman, loving mother and extremely proud grandmother. We will all miss her humor, talent, and capacity to love.

Alma is survived by her daughter Frances Zee and son Andrew Ko. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Candice Zee, Christopher Ko and William Ko.

A Memorial Service to celebrate and honor Alma’s life will be held on March 6, 2015 at Pacific View Memorial Park.