THUY VO April 15, 1952 – August 29, 2026
Thuy Vo, a longtime Longview community leader, businessman, and philanthropist, died on August 29, 2026 at the age of 74.
Thuy was born in Quang Ngai, Vietnam, on April 15, 1952, to Dinh Tri Vo and Bach Mai Nguyen. He was the third of six kids and a self-professed mischief-maker. He met his wife, Anh Nguyen, while studying law in Vietnam. Thuy did not finish his degree because of the Vietnam War. Being of draft age, he joined the South Vietnamese Army and came to the United States to train as a helicopter pilot. He and Anh were separated because of the war and each immigrated to the United States with their respective families. Because of his earlier military training in the United States, Thuy had contacts in Dothan, Alabama, so he and his family settled there in 1975.
After finally reuniting with Anh in 1976, they made their way to join Thuy’s oldest brother Dung Vo and his family in Longview, Washington, and remained there ever since. Thuy built a life guided by the values of family, hard work, education, generosity, and service to others. He and Anh created a home where family and community extended far beyond blood. Their door was always open to relatives, exchange students, young people from Vietnam, and family friends who needed a place to stay.
Thuy and Anh raised their children, Betsy and Danny, with a strong belief in education and service. Thuy opened a printing business with his brother (V.O. Printers), a successful endeavor that provided for his family. He also devoted himself to the Longview community through the City Council, becoming the first Vietnamese-American elected to public office in Washington State. He later served as a trustee of Lower Columbia College and participated in numerous civic and service organizations, including the Lions Club, Longview Chamber of Commerce, and PeaceHealth Foundation.
Perhaps his most enduring work was Project Uplift, a non-profit organization Thuy founded to build preschools in rural Vietnam. Many of the schools were established in communities affected by Agent Orange during the Vietnam War or where children had little access to education. Under his leadership, Project Uplift built 11 schools and helped thousands of children and families.
Thuy’s greatest pride, however, was his family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He treasured time with his wife, children, and later, his grandchildren. He was a present father while his children were growing up, and an equally devoted grandfather to his grandsons. Thuy and Anh spent countless hours driving up and down I-5, even if just to spend a couple of hours with the grandsons.
Thuy believed that a meaningful life was measured not by titles or accomplishments, but by the people we help and the love we share. He lived that belief fully, and encouraged his family and friends to do the same.
Thuy is survived by his wife, Anh; his children, Betsy (Julius Nightingale) and Danny (Kelly); his grandsons, Nathan, Brandon, and Noah Vu; his siblings, Dung Vo (Hanh Nguyen), Tuyet Vo, Thuy Thi Vo (David Trinh), Cuong Vo (Cuc
Le), and Brian Vo (Jayleen Luu); several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews; and a large extended family of relatives, friends, and loved ones whose lives he touched through his generosity and service. Thuy was preceded in death by his parents, Dinh Tri Vo and Bach Mai Nguyen, and his brother, Tuyen Vo.
A celebration of Thuy’s life will be held Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Rose Center for the Arts, Lower Columbia College, in Longview, Washington. Friends and members of the community are warmly invited to attend and celebrate a life dedicated to family, education, and service to others. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to the Thuy Vo Scholarship Fund through the Ethnic Support Council.
