Luong Van Vo, South Vietnamese Army veteran
Luong Van Vo, 81, of Rehoboth Beach passed away peacefully Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in Lewes. Luong's journey through life was marked by his joyful nature, modesty, resilience, dedication, and deep love for his family and friends.
Luong spent his early life in Ben Tre and Saigon, Vietnam, where he attended Truong Toan High School, graduating in 1964. With dreams of making a meaningful impact, he enlisted in the South Vietnamese Army, then the Air Force, and became a helicopter pilot. Trained in Texas, he reached the rank of major and led a Huey helicopter squadron. His nickname was Major Tiger. When encouraged, Luong would share harrowing tales of being shot down by a rocket and numerous sleepless missions. During the fall of Saigon in 1975, he flew dignitaries to U.S. aircraft carriers.
In 1975, Luong immigrated to the United States and with the assistance of Lancaster Church of the Brethren, settled in Lancaster, Pa. Luong met his future wife Mary through the Church of the Brethren. They resided in Lancaster’s East Lampeter township for over 40 years.
In his professional life, he worked as a machinist for ITT in Columbia, Pa., and earned an associate's degree in mechanical engineering from Pennsylvania State University. Luong spent a significant portion of his career at ITT, where he served as a unit production supervisor for the manufacture of precision valves.
An avid fisherman, Luong claimed to have caught and released many fish. One especially large muskellunge was caught at Muddy Run, and was confirmed, but, unfortunately, let go by his young stepson. Luong was also an owner and sailor of both power and sailboats. He played golf and in the 1980s, competed at tennis at the Lancaster Tennis and Yacht Club. Luong spent weekends and summers in Rehoboth Beach. Upon retirement, Luong and Mary moved to Rehoboth to enjoy the beautiful views and friendly people. He enjoyed cooking and was famous for sharing delicious eggrolls. Throughout his life, Luong frequently visited his siblings and extended family in Vietnam. He showed off his homeland several times to his stepson Sean and Sean’s spouse Kathy Hunt, who featured Luong in two of her published cookbooks.
Luong was a loving husband to Mary, whose unwavering support and companionship were a cornerstone of his life. Together, they built a home filled with warmth, love, and shared dreams. He was often the star at parties due to his engaging personality, distinctive accent, and loud laugh. His presence in Lancaster was marked by his huge smile and generous spirit; he was always willing to lend a helping hand, whether through his professional skills or his personal time. Luong and Mary’s favorite travel destinations were Bermuda and Switzerland.
He was a proud father to My-Phuong Thi Vo of Virginia and Nicole My-Duc Vo of Virginia, and stepfather to Sean Dippold of Collegeville, Pa. Luong’s grandchildren include Sydney Vo Nguyen, Jessica Que-Vy Nguyen, Stephanie Y-Vy Chu, Victoria Ai-Vy Chu and Gabriella Cat-Vy Nguyen. In addition to his wife, daughters, stepson, and grandchildren, he leaves behind seven siblings.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Beebe Medical Foundation, 902 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958.
