Wing Chung

Wing Chung and grandchildren, 1955.

Dates: b. China, 1863 d. Vancouver, 1955

Cemetery Location: Block F, Row 3, Plot 29

Profile:

Wing Chung is widely regarded as the patriarch of Revelstoke’s early Chinese community. He immigrated to Canada at the age of 16 to work on the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and according to his obituary, was present at the driving of the last spike.

Settling in Revelstoke in the mid-1880s, Wing operated a general store on Front Street importing goods from China for the local Chinese community, as well as groceries, fruit and candy for the Europeans. Later, the Wing Chung store was relocated to a large building uptown on 200 Block, First Street West, and his family lived in the back of the building.

Wing’s first wife battled with sickness and died on December 18, 1910, at the age of 38. His second wife Jung Ling gave birth to four sons: Hai (Henry) Quan Sam, Hong Sham Ging (Jack Sam), Mee Lai Sham Ging (Sham Lai Mee) and Ark Sham Ging (Kaye Sam). Wing also had a daughter in China. During a trip to their home country, Jung Ling succumbed to asthma and died in December 1920, on board the ship back to Canada. Wing Chung’s third wife had another two sons: Owen Sam and Ming Sam.

Active in Revelstoke business organizations, Mr. Chung was secretary of the Chinese Freemasons. In later life, Wing Chung moved to Vancouver to live with his son Lai Mee, and died in Vancouver in 1955, at the age of 92.