Milton Chung 1947-2024

 In the summer of 1967 after my sophomore year at Asbury College I attended "summer school" partly, I think, to try to repair my academic standing which started so poorly my first quarter that it never went down in four years. I really enjoyed that summer and learned a lot. The academic atmosphere was more relaxed. Class numbers were low and professors had more time for us. Also there was a high school group on campus (National Science Foundation special program???) and we college sophomores had a temporary exalted social position. 

Just for that summer I arranged to room with a student I had not known well, Milton Chung. He was a great guy and I enjoyed knowing him for those few weeks. He left Asbury after that summer and transferred to another school, I presume Ohio Northern, since that is mentioned as his alma mater in his obituary. Milton had been the roommate of Solomon Lasoi the previous year. Since Solomon and I had both had roommates transfer we decided to room together our last two years at Asbury. This was a great boost to my academics. Solomon was a dedicated student and influenced me to become more dedicated to my studies. 

Today I thought of Milton because I noticed the picture below in an old album and thought I'd see if I could find him online. Once again I was too late. Milton died just a few months ago. I would have enjoyed talking with him again. 

He ended up a college professor in Spanish. Despite his Chinese heritage Milton had grown up in Uraquay so he was fluent in Spanish. 

It saddens me to know he is gone. 

This is the third time in the last week that I have learned of the death of a friend from the sixties. In all three cases it had been a long time since I had had any contact with the friend. 

I don't know how I happened to have this childhood picture of Milton. I suppose it was left in our room when he transferred. I never knew where he went or saw him again after that summer. 

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Milton Chung Obituary

Obituary published on Legacy.com by Hankins & Whittington Funeral Home on Jun. 19, 2024.

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Milton Chung, 76, from Tega Cay, SC passed away on June 13, 2024. He was formerly from Coram, NY.He was born October 16, 1947 in Canton, China. He was the son of the late George Chung and Lucila Chung. Milton grew up in Guayaquil, Ecuador and graduated from Homer High School in upstate New York, class of '65. He went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio. He also received his Masters of Arts degree in Spanish from Bowling Green State University, Ohio in 1973. Milton was so proud to become an American citizen and served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam conflict. Milton had many different jobs in his life but his greatest satisfaction, besides the Air Force, was being a Spanish professor at Suffolk County Community College, Selden, NY, where he worked for approximately 20 years. His hobbies included soccer, cooking, traveling, aviation and watching the history channel and World War II and Vietnam movies. Milton is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Donna Chung, his son George M. Chung and his wife Danyeale and his grandchildren Landon, James and Allison Chung. He is also survived by his brothers Robert Au and his wife Hilda and Richard Tang and his wife Ada and his brother-in-law, James Hiatrides and all his beloved nieces, nephews and cousins. Graveside services will take place at 11 am, Thursday, June 27, 2024 at Salisbury National Cemetery, 501 Statesville Boulevard, Salisbury, NC 28144 In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Tunnel to Towers or Folds of Honor. Online condolences may be made at www.HankinsandWhittington.com
Hankins & Whittington Funeral Home