Victor Mar's Obituary
Victor Mar, 102, passed away peacefully on August 17, 2017.
Victor was a third generation Chinese American born on February 16, 1915, in Pet Hill, CA. He was the eldest of 7 children. Victor married Bessie Chinn in 1948. They were married for 58 years and had a daughter, Cindy.
After graduating from Placer Union High School, Victor worked on the family’s ranch before enlisting in the US Army Air Corps. A veteran of World War II, he served in the African Theater, attaining the rank of Tech Sergeant. After his discharge, he managed the DiGiorgio Fruit Company before moving to Oakland where he co-founded Center Auto Parts. For the next 29 years, Victor worked hard at building a successful business.
After retirement in 1982, he devoted much of his time to community service. Victor was an arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau, a member of the Off Street Parking Commission, the Alameda County Grand Jury, Oakland Community Police Task Force One and Two, and the Board of Directors of the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation. He was a member of the American Legion for 70 years.
He was a Founding Member and on the Board of Directors of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce and the Asian Advisory Committee on Crime. He served as President of the Wa Sung Community Service Club, Secretary of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance, and an Oakland Planning Commissioner. He was the recipient of the Liberty Bell Award from the Alameda County Bar Association in 1989.
Upon his second retirement in 2011 from volunteer work, Victor was presented with Resolutions from the California State Assembly, the Oakland City Council and presented with The Oakland Police Department Honorary Gold Badge.
Victor’s hobbies included home improvement projects, working on automobiles, traveling, and later in life, cooking. He could always be counted on to help family and friends when the need arose and did so willingly and without complaint.
Victor was preceded in death by wife, Bessie, parents, Mar Chun Sang and Tom Hung Leen, brothers Velie (Lily), Haley (Margaret), in-laws, Elzay Davisson, Charles Pang, Anita (Glen) Doung, Albert (Etta) Chinn, Carole (Charles) Luey, Judy Chinn, Donald Yee, and Mildred Chinn.
Victor is survived by his daughter, Cindy Mar (Owen) Williams, his sisters, Virginia Davisson, Edith Mar, Sarah (Bill) Yee, Helen Pang, in-laws Mable Yee, Walter Chinn, Florence Chinn, Gary (Sylvia) Chinn, and many nieces, nephews, grand and great grand nieces and nephews.
A private entombment will be held in September 2017. Memorial donations may be made to the Wa Sung Charity Fund, P.O. Box 1561, Oakland, CA 94604, under the Mar Scholarship.
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