Eleanor Der Bing
Age 85
Eleanor was born in Sacramento, CA, to parents who had immigrated from China. Her mother had been raised in the old Chinese traditional ways, including having her feet bound. Her father had been adopted by a family without a son and later worked as a controller for a gambling house. Both were well respected in their community. They met and married in China and had a son, 17 years older than Eleanor. Soon after his birth, Eleanor's father came to the US, but her mother could not get a visa until she was 42, at which time she and Eleanor's brother came to the US also. She was 44 when Eleanor was born. Unfortunately, Eleanor's father died when she was 2 years old. Her older brother then worked to support the family, but they went through hard times during the depression.
Eleanor went to public school in Sacramento, but also went to Chinese school every day after school and on Saturdays to learn Chinese. During World War II, Eleanor was in the high school marching band and went to rallies. She also went to work part time at the Del Monte cannery and a Chinese restaurant. After high school the war was over and she went to Junior College. But very soon, while she was still 18, she got a job with the California retirement system and never went back to school.
In Sacramento, Eleanor met her husband, Bill Der Bing, who was born in Norfolk, VA, was a Navy aviator during the war, and went to Sacramento Junior College on the GI Bill. They married when Eleanor was 20 and he was making $90/month. Two years later they had a son, Bill Jr. They tried to buy a house but encountered prejudice and ended up renting a flat for $17/mo. When Bill Jr. was one year old, Bill's mother insisted that they, and Bill's two brothers, move to Norfolk, VA, to help run the family Chinese restaurant. That was not a satisfactory situation, so they opened their own restaurant, "Der Bing's Kitchen", which was the first take-out restaurant in Norfolk. However, they soon had a lot of competition and eventually went out of business. During this period they had two daughters. Eleanor went to work for the Naval Base at Norfolk, starting as a typist and eventually becoming a procurement agent. Meanwhile, Bill went to work for the government at Fort Eustice in their publications department. Bill learned about the new NASA space program and was transferred to Houston to work in their public affairs office. Eleanor also went to work for NASA in Houston as a procurement agent.
NASA sent Eleanor to many training courses and she became known as a tough negotiator. She was referred to as the "Dragon Lady". She eventually became the contracting officer for the NASA facilities in Houston. She also headed the negotiating team for many large contracts and served as Equal Employment Opportunity counselor. Eleanor loved her job.
Bill and Eleanor joined the Chinese Baptist Church in 1961 when they moved to Houston, primarily because it had many excellent programs for children. They were involved with expeditions, social events and parties for the kids.
Bill retired in 1986 and Eleanor retired in 1989 at age 62. They wanted to travel and went to China to visit family. But then Bill had to have quintuple heart bypass surgery and could no longer travel. Eleanor went back to work full time for Hernandez Engineering, then later worked part time, and finally retired again at age 72.
Eleanor has had many interests over the years. For 15 years she volunteered to serve as ombudsman for a skilled nursing facility, Regency Village, in Webster, TX. Eleanor organized the Miss Chinatown Pageant in Houston, began the first Asian Festival, and managed the Chinese Association bowling league. She was very active in Toastmasters, was the first female president of the Chinese Professionals Club in the 1970s, and was president of the Association of Chinese Organizations in Houston. As a result of the latter position she was invited to travel to Taiwan and the Peoples Republic of China. She also had an opportunity to go to Washington DC to meet President Carter and the Japanese Prime Minister. Eleanor was heavily involved with Martha Wong's campaigns for City Council and State Representative. In addition, she served on the Area Planning Agency Council of Harris County. She and Bill received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Houston OCA in 2007.
One of Eleanor's great pleasures is playing mahjong, and she has been in the same group for 35 years. They meet at least once a month at a member's house for either lunch or dinner. Another activity she likes is going to casinos. She also enjoys crocheting, which she does while watching TV. She makes hats, shawls, afghans and ponchos and gives them to senior citizens and to the doctors and nurses who have helped her husband.
Eleanor says her most traumatic life experience was having to leave her elderly mother in Sacramento when she moved to Norfolk. After she left, her mother fell and died, and Eleanor wasn't able to get to the funeral.
In September, 2012, Eleanor organized a 90th birthday party for her husband. There were 220 guests, performers, a singer and a 9-course dinner. All of the Der Bing family was there together for the first time in 40 years. Bill received proclamations from Gov. Perry, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, County Judge Ed Emmett and Mayor Annise Parker.
Eleanor has 4 grandchildren: her son, who lives in Milpitis, CA, has 2 sons and her daughter in Falls Church, VA, also has 2 sons. Her other daughter lives in Honolulu and has no children.
These days Eleanor serves as caregiver for her husband, but gets out whenever she can. She believes in staying active and says "If you can walk, you can travel."