Obituary of John Paul Pham

John Paul Pham (Doan Huu Pham), 56, passed away April 28, 2018.

Mass of Christian Burial: 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 5, 2018, at Vietnamese Martyres Catholic Church, 801 E. May Field Rd., Arlington, TX.

Visitation:  2:00 - 8:00 p.m. Friday, May 4, 2018, with a Rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Martin Thompson & Son Funeral Home, 6009 Wedgwood Dr., Fort Worth, TX.

John was born August 20, 1961, in Vietnam. 

Survivors: Wife, Jessica Le; sons, Hugh Doan Pham, Kevin Duy Pham; daughters, Di Hoang Pham, An Dieu Hoang Pham, Melanie Vo, Annie Le.  

John Pham was born in Vietnam in 1961 as Huu Doan Pham. He left Vietnam in 1979, underwent an odyssey for a new home, and arrived in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA in 1980. There, he completed high school at Olney High.

In 1984, he enlisted in the US Navy as an Ocular Surgery Tech and changed his name to John Paul Pham. A gifted photographer, John studied Fine Arts Photography and Film at the Community College of Philadelphia while in the Navy. However, like an adventurous ship at sea, he changed courses and completed a degree in Healthcare Administration at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. In 1987, John married his first wife Thuy Pham and they had their first son, Hugh Pham. The Navy moved the small family to San Diego, California where their second son, Kevin Pham was born in 1988. In 1990, daughter Di Pham was born in Fort Worth, TX and he soon after left the Navy in 1991 to pursue investment banking. Anxious for a new challenge in life, John Pham shifted his career once more and refocused as a real estate investor. Daughter An Pham was born shortly after in 1993 in Grand Prairie, TX.

In 2000, John began living on a secluded ranch in Midlothian, TX. Oldest son Hugh joined him in 2004. In 2005, John married his second wife, Jessica Le. Initially a long-distance couple, John moved to Australia in 2006 to be with her and their two daughters, Melanie and Annie. In 2007, John brought the family back to rejoin Hugh in Texas and they have spent the last ten years making the Arlington/Grand Prairie area their home. Through times that were both good and bad, Jessica was there to support him as a partner. They worked together in many business endeavors, proudly raised their daughters, and enjoyed traveling together.  

For over two decades, John earned a reputation as a cunning businessman. He and his close business partners owned the Lewisville Plaza retail area and Padera Lake in Midlothian among other properties. John was also the owner operator of numerous food establishments: M China Inn, Chick N Roll, and First Noodle Bar. John cemented himself as public figure in DFW’s Vietnamese-American community after running the TNVP Vietnamese radio station, but always remained humble. When his investments fell short, John was resilient and determined to make a comeback. Perseverance was one of his chief virtues and he ensured that all his children learned of its value.

John Pham will be missed for his intelligence and wit, but mostly for his sense of humor. He loved to laugh and easily made others laugh as well. John was an avid reader and never shied from discussing politics and business. He also enjoyed working with his hands and established ranches on his various real estate investments. Priding himself on his resourcefulness, he did his own farm work when possible. He wasn’t just a man with big dreams, but he also dared to cultivate these dreams through sheer will.