THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 5, 1995 TAG: 9512050247
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B10 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: DELRAY BEACH, FLA. LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Dr. Hong Yooke Woo, Rph., M.D., of the 900 block of Palm Circle and a longtime resident of Suffolk, died Dec. 4, 1995, in Sentara Leigh Hospital.
A native of Richmond, Va., he was the son of the late Fook Woo and Yuen Shee Chin Woo. Dr. Woo was a retired ophthalmologist and businessman.
Dr. Woo started out working in the family laundry ``Tom Sing Laundry'' when he was not yet five years old. He was a national champion dance roller skater in 1949. He served as corporal in the Army during the Korean Conflict and was awarded for meritorious service. He graduated from pharmacy school at Medical College of Virginia in 1957, during which he was a member of the pharmacy fraternity Kappa Psi and was the president for one year. He was also a member of the Alpha Sigma Chi Leadership Society, Sigma Zeta Honorary Science Society and Rho Chi Honorary Society. In 1961 he graduated from medical school at Medical College of Virginia during which he won the Aubrey H. Struss Bacteriology Award in 1958. He did his ophthalmology residency from 1962 to 1965 in the Veterans Administration Hospital in Richmond and did a strabismus fellowship from 1965 to 1966 in San Francisco, Calif., under Dr. Arthur Jampolsky. He practiced in Suffolk for 25 years and popularized intraocular lens implants in Tidewater and also served as chief of staff at Louise Obici Memorial Hospital from 1975 to 1977. In 1994, he was honored as Alumnus of the Year by the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute. Also in 1994 he was awarded the Medical Staff Award for outstanding contributions to the medical profession from the Obici Hospital Clinical Conference. Dr. Woo was the first strabismoligist to locate in Suffolk, the first to advertise acceptance of Medicare for intraocular implant surgery, and the first Asian-American to practice in Suffolk. After retiring from H.Y. Woo, Inc. ophthalmology he became executive vice-president of Hobbs International Ltd. and traveled extensively to the Far East. In his experience in the import-export business, he was a pioneer in fostering better relations with China.
Dr. Woo was a member of many associations and clubs including The American Medical Association, Southern Medical Association, American Association of Ophthalmology, Virginia Medical Association, Tri-County Medical Association, High Five Association, Twenty, Inc., Industrial Development Authority, where he served as chairman in 1989, Rotary Club since 1974 and served as president in 1988, Jolly Boys, Elks Lodge (NU)685, Masonic Lodge (NU)340, Scottish Rights 32nd degree in Newport News, Khedive Temple, Travelers Protective Association Post P, Cotillon Club, and Suffolk German Club.
Survivors include his wife, Betty A. Woo; a daughter, Margaret Kimberlee Woo Parr of Suffolk; a son, Airman 1st Class Charles Arthur Woo of Germany; stepdaughters, Terrie A. White and Cindy A. Manno, both of Suffolk; sisters, Mae Fong W. Moy of Washington, D.C., and Mae Line W. Wong of Augusta, Ga.; a brother, Sun Y. Woo of Richmond; granddaughter, Margaret Elizabeth Parr; grandsons, Charles Douglas Parr Jr. and Bracey Hong Parr; step-granddaughters, Nicole L. Moore and Kelly D. Manno; step-grandsons, Joshua R. Grizzard, Clinton M. Crumpler, Dean G. Manno, Shawn White, and Daniel White; sisters-in-law, Mrs. Ling Y. Woo and Mrs. Cleo Y. Woo.
Services will be conducted Thursday, Dec. 7, 1995, at 2 p.m. in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens Mausoleum by the Rev. Dr. Bruce A. Havens. Friends may join the family in the Hill Funeral Home from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, and other times at 323 Sherwood Drive in Suffolk. Memorial donations may be made to the Nansemond Suffolk Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 1515, Suffolk, Va. 23434, or to the Suffolk Christian Church Building Fund, 216 N. Main St., Suffolk, Va. 23434.
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB