David Gee "Mae West" Chang, 81, of Las Vegas, passed away on Saturday, February 5, 2005. He was born March 7, 1923, in Oakland, California, the youngest of 12 children born to the prominent Chinese-American banker, Charles Gee. He was a staff sergeant in World War II as a tail gunner in a B17 Flying Fortress, 1942-1945, in the European Theater and was a POW in Germany, escaped and was repatriated in France at the end of the war. For his service, David received a Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
David was the first Chinese restaurateur in Las Vegas, owner of the Twin Dragon Restaurant, 1949-1950. David was the sole proprietor of David Ming Oriental Art Goods originally located on Fremont Street in April 1958, and later in Sahara Square and Commercial Center.
David was married to Leatrice Joy Lam (deceased in 1986) for 40 years and is survived by his wife of 18 years, May Sheng Chang; and stepdaughter, Marlene Chan. He is also survived by his son, Russell and wife, Thel; daughter, Lorna and husband, Bert Hill, and grand daughters, grandsons, and a great-grand daughter.(Source: San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 13, 2005)