Herman Cheng Tong Cheng

Herman Cheng Tong Cheng, age 83, departed this world on Wednesday June 13, 2018.  He was devoted husband to Lin Yu Cheng, loving father to five children – Lotus, Lily, Cheri, Paul and David, and grandfather to 10 grandchildren. 

Born in Lotung, Taiwan in 1935, Herman attended Tainan Cheng-Kung University.  While working on his senior thesis, he met his future wife, Lin Yu. They married in 1957. Herman came to the United States in 1961 to pursue graduate studies as a scholarship student of the University of California, Berkeley. After earning his PhD in Chemical Engineering in 1969, he was employed by the DuPont Company, Engineering Research Division, at the Experimental Station in Wilmington, DE. He and Lin became naturalized US citizens in 1971. While working for DuPont, he also translated Japanese patents into English for the Experimental Station Library and served as a translator at conferences betweenToyota and Nissan companies and DuPont’s Polymer group. Herman retired from DuPont in 1992.  Never lacking for things to do, he found time to obtain a real estate license, help with his wife’s businesses, Kid’s Kloset at Fairfax Shopping Center, and Oriental Gifts at the Booth’s Corner Farmer’s Market, and run a computer consulting business. An avid amateur photographer, his latest hobby was learning to cook. Herman was an active member of the Wilmington Evangelical Christian Church and enjoyed singing bass in the choir. He also sang in the CACC choir.  Herman’s enthusiasm for learning, generous spirit, and boundless good humor will be missed by all who knew him.  

Besides his children and grandchildren, he is survived by brothers Cheng Song and Cheng Zong. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lin Yu, his brothers Cheng Ming and Cheng He, sister Xui  Mei, and his parents, Ying Ren Cheng and Yan Zhou Cheng.

A funeral service will be held on Monday June 25, 2018, 11:00 am at the Wilmington Community Evangelical Church, 1512 Brackenville Road, Hockessin, DE 19707. Friends may call starting at 10:15AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Wilmington Community Evangelical Church, 1512 Brackenville Road, Hockessin, DE  19707.