Nguyen Van Thanh

Friday, Jan. 19, 2024

April 9, 1947 ~ January 9, 2024 

Nguyen Van Thanh, 76, of West Valley City, reunited with his wife on January 9, 2024, while he was surrounded by his loving family. His life was a testament of optimism, kindness, strength and honor.

Born on April 9, 1947, in Da Lat, Vietnam, Thanh was the fifth of nine children of Nguyen Van Ty and Do Thi Nu. After graduating from the College of Electrical Engineering, in the Center of National Technologies of Phu Tho, Saigon, Thanh attended Thu Duc Military Academy and served in the Army Corps of Republic of Vietnam as a warrant officer. In 1970, he attended the Signal School of the Army Corps of Republic of South Vietnam, in Vung Tau, and served as a lieutenant of communications at Long Binh Post.

After the Fall of Saigon, he was arrested and imprisoned in the communist hard-labor concentration camp. Upon his release in 1980, he reunited with Tran Cam Hong, whom he met in the spring of 1973. With his release the two were finally able to wed and start their life together. They remained married for 42 years until her passing in April of 2023.

In 1991, Thanh immigrated with his family as refugees to Salt Lake City. He obtained his technical degree at ITT Technical Institute and worked as an electronics technician until he retired. He served as the president of the Vietnamese American Community of Utah from 2014 to 2017. Known to his family as Be Lon, his friends as Thanh Dui, and the Vietnamese community at large as Chu Thanh, his optimism and enthusiasm for establishing connections endeared him to the community he served. 

Thanh is survived by his daughter Nguyen Hong Loan (Eric), son Nguyen Thanh An, his niece Nguyen Hoang Anh (Ramon), nephew Nguyen Phuoc An, and extended family and friends worldwide. As a poignant parting gift to his granddaughter, he attended her birthday before his peaceful passing, and she was able to have her smiling Ngoai present for her first birthday.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father, his elder brother and sister Nguyen Van Xuan and Nguyen Thi Hoa, and younger brothers Nguyen Van Tai and Nguyen Van Phuoc. As we grieve the loss of our father, uncle, brother and friend, we find peace in knowing he is once again united with his beloved wife.

A funeral Mass was celebrated January 13, 2024 at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, West Jordan.