Yen, Yu-Cho

Yu-Cho Yen

Yu-Cho Yen, 91, of 2351 Wheatland Avenue, died Monday, July 23, 2012 at the Williamsport Regional Medical Center.

Yu-Cho was born in China on February 12, 1921. In 1968 he was invited to the United States to work as the personal chef for the Chinese ambassador to Taiwan. Because Mr. Yen was such a good cook, the ambassador sent him to Williamsport to cook for the Taiwan Little League Team. Mr. Yen liked Williamsport so much that he moved his family here in 1972 and opened the first Chinese restaurant in the area, the Yen King Restaurant. The restaurant is now run by his son and daughter-in-law, Mong and Yong Yen.

Yu-Cho and his wife, Yu-Chun Chen were married for 56 years.

Yu-Cho was a member of the Hanmaum Korean Presbyterian Church, Cogan Station. He loved gardening, cooking, playing Mahjong, watching Chinese opera, and being with friends and family.

Surviving in addition to his wife are sons, Chin-Ting (Sulien) Yen of Bloomsburg, Raymond (Mindy) Yen of Orlando, FL, and Mong-Chu (Yong) Yen of Williamsport; daughter, Gina (Steve) Myers of Dover; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and two sisters in China.

Funeral service will be held 11 a.m., Friday, at Knight-Confer’s, 1914 Memorial Ave., with the Rev. Nam G. Roh officiating. There will be a visitation from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be at Twin Hills Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions may be made to Hanmaum Korean Presbyterian Church, 656 West Creek Road, P.O. Box 310, Cogan Station, PA 17728.