Herbert Kong
December 9, 1929 - April 17, 2017
Herbert Kong passed away on April 17, 2017 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 87 years old.
Herb was born in San Francisco, California on December 9, 1929, however he was raised "on the sunny side of the Bay" in Oakland, California. Herb was the youngest of 5 children (Wilfred Kong, Jessie Toy, Alice Ong, Pauline Chew, and Herbert) born to Poy Kong and Owyang Shee. Young Herbie attended Lincoln Elementary School and graduated from Oakland High School. Herb joined the United States Marine Corp Reserves where he was stationed in Japan and fought in the Korean War. Upon his return from the war, Herb worked for the U.S. Postal Service (35 years) until his retirement.
In 1958, Herb married Marie Toy. Herb and Marie lived in Oakland their entire lives. They are survived by their sons, Alan and David, their daughter-in-law, Elena, and their grandchildren, Marina, Ryan, and Gabriela.
Herb had many hobbies. He was a wood worker/carpenter, an automobile mechanic, and a gardener. Herb tinkered in his woodshop for endless hours. It was his "man cave". Herb handmade all of the cabinets in his kitchen. Herb was also an avid weekend automobile mechanic. He maintained all of his cars for years beyond their expected lives. Herb was a green thumb gardener. His specialties were fruits and vegetables that he would generously share with all his friends and family. Herb was also a traveler. He and the family enjoyed numerous summertime road trips. In his retirement, Herb and Marie traveled to China and Europe.
Herb was also a foodie. Herb and Marie loved late-night snacking. There wasn't a Chinese restaurant or hamburger joint in the Bay Area that Herb and Marie had not tried at least once! But the food they were most passionate about was pizza. Throughout their lives, even into their early-80s, Herb and Marie would develop a craving for pizza and would jump into their car for a late-night food-run to San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood to patronize one of their favorite pizza joints. Herb was our family's pizza aficionado!
Herbert was interred at Mountain View Cemetery alongside Marie on April 24, 2017.