Dr. John Fong H. Chen

Fong H. Chen, M.D., F.A.C.S., passed away peacefully at his home in Edmond, Oklahoma, on March 11, 2026. Born on June 7, 1941, in Taiwan to Shui-Mu Chen and Lung-Mei Lee Chen, he grew up in the modest community of Taitung. From an early age, he demonstrated remarkable determination, walking six miles to school each day at age six in pursuit of learning and the simple offering of free milk. There he discovered a lifelong love of reading, devouring nearly every book in the library, with a special fondness for biographies of accomplished Americans and Chinese figures.

In 1963, Dr. Chen began his medical studies at Taipei Medical University, graduating in June 1970. In 1972, he and his fiancée, Dr. Helen Chiou, immigrated to the United States, marrying the following year. He completed a surgical internship at Watts Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, and a general surgery residency at Huron Road Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. In June 1977, the couple moved to Woodward, Oklahoma, and became naturalized U.S. citizens on February 7, 1979.

A board-certified surgeon, Dr. Chen served as Chief of Medical Staff and Chairman of the Surgery Department at Woodward Hospital and Health Center. He also held roles as Medical Director for the Woodward Ambulance Service, Medical Examiner for Woodward County, Associate Professor of Surgery, and Consulting Physician for Taipei Medical University. He was a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the International College of Surgeons, the American Society of Abdominal Surgeons, and the American College of Gastroenterology, among other professional organizations. His contributions to the community earned him a Proclamation of Appreciation from the City Commission of Woodward, and he served on the Admissions Board of the OU School of Medicine.

Dr. Chen was remembered as a devoted physician who remained humble, gentle, and even-tempered throughout his life. Deeply shaped by his own childhood experiences, he held a profound passion for education. Following his father’s death, he returned to Taiwan with his brothers to establish an award-winning computer system at his former elementary school. He and his wife, Dr. Helen Chiou Chen, shared a love of travel, visiting most European countries as well as Egypt and Morocco. He found joy in music as a member of the Oklahoma City Orchestra League, working in his yard, and growing an impressive 32-pound winter melon. Above all, he dedicated countless hours to reading and research in service to his patients and friends, allowing little else to distract from the practice of medicine.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Dr. Helen Chiou Chen; his son, Ming Chen, and daughter-in-law, Kelli Elizabeth Chen; grandchildren Jackson Chen and Amelia Chen; brothers Chin Ho Chen and Shin Yee Chen; brothers-in-law Ray Chiou (wife Pauli) and Gin Yi Chiou (wife Yue); sisters-in-law Shu Fang and Shu Jong (husband Mike Chiang Chen); and many extended relatives and friends. His parents and one brother preceded him in death.