Frank (Feng Keng) Chang

Published 8:31 pm Thursday, October 10, 2019

Frank (Feng Keng) Chang passed away at Brookdale Senior Living in Clinton Sept. 10, 2019. Born in Anhui, China, on Feb. 12, 1922, he attended Hunan University and then pursued graduate studies in geophysics at St. Louis University. 

In 1959, he was selected to join the U.S. Marie Byrd Land scientific expedition and became the first Chinese person to explore Antarctica. In recognition of this achievement, Chang Peak (also in Antarctica) was named in his honor.

During the late 1960s, Frank arrived with his wife Shu and son to Vicksburg, where he worked as a research seismologist at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station until his retirement.

An avid student of Chinese history and calligraphy, he and Shu lived in Vicksburg for 50 years. He is survived by his son Larry, daughter-in-law Dinah McFarlane, and granddaughter Linnea.

A celebration of life service will be held later, with date and location to be announced.