Mr. Khang Trong Bui was born in Binh Thuan, Vietnam on July 8th 1949 and was welcomed into heaven on February 28th 2025. He was the beloved son of the late Bui Trong Liet and Pham Thi Bien. Growing up in Vung Tau, Vietnam, Khang was an avid learner, and his curiosity with machinery lead him to become a self-taught mechanic. As a young man in the midst of the Vietnam War, Khang was enlisted by the US Army to fix and repair Army jeeps and vehicles. In 1975, he fled Vietnam as one of the over a million boat people seeking refugee. He always noted that leaving his home country was the saddest moment in his life.
Resettling in Miami, Florida, he continued his craft as a car mechanic and became fluent in both English and Spanish. As fate would have it, in 1976, he met Quy Bich Vu / Nancy Bui at a wedding in New Orleans, Louisiana and fell in love. He moved to New Orleans to be closer to his love, and they were married that same year on December 18, 1976. While in New Orleans, he and his wife had three children : Robinson (Vū Tuâń), David (Quang Trung) and Marie (Thanh-Thao).
The Vietnamese immigrants living along the Gulf Coast began to thrive in the shrimping industry; spanning from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi to Florida. Khang converted his mechanic skills from automobiles to commercial shrimping boats. Word of his abilities quickly spread amongst the Vietnamese shrimpers. On a work trip to Sabine Pass / Port Arthur, Texas, upon seeing him, many of the shrimp boat captains jumped out of their boats with cash in hand, pressing and pleading him to fix their boats. Seizing the abundant work opportunity, in 1984, Khang and Quy moved their family to Port Arthur, Texas, and founded K&B Marine. In 1985, he became the first and only Vietnamese American distributor for Caterpillar, the world’s leading manufacturer of Marine Diesel engines and equipment; a recognition he was extremely proud of. In 1995, his business expanded as he became a ship dock owner in Sabine Pass / Pleasure Island. His recounting of the Vietnamese-American shrimping community was featured in the book, “Asian Texans : Our Histories and Our Lives” by Irwin Tang.
In the last decade of his life, he relished in being a grandfather to Emma, Audrey, Claire, Jonathan and Anne. A proud Ong Noi/Ngoai, he cherished every hug, drawing, painting or dance by his grandkids. Despite his failing health, his unwavering faith in God and steadfast love for his wife of 48 years, his children and his grandchildren kept him fighting until his last breath.
Khang was a man of many facets. His resilience, grit and determination were bar none, and he strived to instill his strong work ethic in his children. He never met a stranger, befriending all those he encountered with his charismatic personality. With love and generosity, his favorite pastime was simply sharing a meal and bonding with family and friends. At his core, he was a beloved son and brother, a loving husband, father and grandfather and a devout Catholic.
Although his physical presence may no longer be with us, his spirit will continue to uplift and inspire all those who knew him. His children and grandchildren will carry forth his legacy of faith, love and compassion in all that we do.
Photos
Khang Trong Bui
Photo book
Khang’s life, in a printed book
We design every page from Khang’s 49 photos. Make it yours, then order a copy for everyone who loved Khang.
Khang was 14 when Texan Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as president
1971
Khang was 22 when Walt Disney World opened in Florida
1976
Khang + Quy’s Wedding in New Orleans
1977
1970s - 1980s
1982
Khang was 33 when Michael Jackson released "Thriller"
1984
Business Owner K&B Marine
1990
1990s
1995
Khang was 46 when "Toy Story" became the first fully computer-animated film
1998
1998 + 1999 TJHS Homecoming Khang’s daughter Marie was crowned Homecoming Queen (the 1st Asian Homecoming Queen at TJHS). He was so proud, and felt that the ...
2003
David’s UT Graduation College University of Texas at Austin
2004
Marie’s UT Graduation College University of Texas at Austin
2004
Khang was 55 when Facebook was launched
2005
Marie’s White Coat Ceremony Medical School University of Texas at Houston
2007
Rob’s Graduation College Lamar University
2008
Summer Vacation Niagara Falls
2008
Rob’s Graduation MBA Program @ Lamar University
2009
Lee’s Graduation Dental School @ Tufts University
2009
Marie’s Graduation Medical School @ University of Texas at Austin
2009
Vinh Quy Bai To
2010
David + Lee’s Engagement
2010
Khang was 61 when Apple's iPad went on sale
2012
David + Lee’s Wedding
2013
Nate’s Catechism
2022
Khang was 73 when Tesla opened Gigafactory Texas near Austin
Ten years ago, my dad asked me when I was starting my own practice. I had only been working less than 5 years, and I scoffed at the preposterous idea. “That’s too risky Dad! No one has their own practice anymore… they all join groups!” He was dumbfounded by my response. To him, a medical doctor, a surgeon no less, has a specialized skill, making them a prime candidate for owning a business. When he was only 35 years old, he opened his own business. Without hesitation, just pure courage and determination to achieve the American Dream.
It took me almost a decade to build up enough courage to open my own practice in 2023, which I’m grateful he was able to see. Over the past 3 years, he encouraged me to reach the next big step - owning the property for my practice location. I searched high and low in the area… but nothing suited my needs. On the very day after my dad died last year, I received a text from my realtor. “We found a spot!” Still heartbroken by his death, I went to look at the property that week. As I walked in and looked up at the rotunda, the sun rays shined down, warming my face. I knew it was him. He had found a location for me. [And it being a former church was classic him.]
Dad, thank you for always being my biggest cheerleader, and encouraging me to always reach for more. I vow to have faith in myself, and will always strive to be brave like you were.
02.28.26 🕊️ A year went by in a blink of an eye, and there wasn’t a day that I didn’t think of you. I found myself trying to call you for any little accomplishment I had… and my heart broke every time I no longer could. Today we came together to celebrate your life. The kids sang you a sweet song, and we attended a private mass in your honor. We even ate at one of your favorite places, Thuan Kieu. We love and miss you Dad! 😭🩵🙏🏻
Last night I stayed up trying to find the words to express how I feel about my FIL and my heart aches.
To me, my FIL was perfectly imperfect. To those who didn't know him well, he could seem a little difficult. But to me, I was blessed to know and see the true softie he was underneath it all.
David and I have been together a LONG time and my FIL has loved me like one of his own since almost day 1.
I know at times he can say crazy things, but I know he always meant well. It's the language and cultural barrier that sometime causes friction. But he is a man of action.
If he could give us the world, he would. The way he cherished his wife, the way he motivated his kids and how he always showed up for his grandkids.
I wished we had more time with him. I will never forget our heartfelt talks, the pure looks of joy when he held his grandbabies, and his unending love for his family.
He may be gone, but I will always see him in Anh Tuan, Anh Trung and Thao. Not just in physical traits, but character.
He was such a hard working man, one of my favorite phrases that I like to hear him say is .
"Ba khoe nhu con bò kéo xe."
He never complained about how physical his work was.
Cam on ba da hy sinh cho chung con. Tinh thường của ba cho ma, cho chung con và các cháu chung con se không bao giờ quen.
Ba hãy yên nghỉ
We love you Dad!
🌹It feels like just yesterday that you left this Earth. I still feel your presence and am slowly finding peace in knowing you’re in a better place, free of pain and suffering, and filled with eternal joy with God. Today we gathered to remember you, the kids danced to Forrest Frank's "Your Way's Better" for their Grandpa, and I know you loved it. After Mass, we gathered to eat at your favorite restaurant, JASMINE! 🥲 We love and Miss you Dad!
One of the hardest weekends of my life, burying my dear sweet Dad. 😪
The night before my dad passed, I had a dream. In times of stress, I always have a dream that I'm failing my classes, and this one started the same way. I walked into church to pray about it, and my mom and aunt were in the front pew. Suddenly, my dad's nurse's voice spoke on the overhead speaker. She said, "Marie, your dad has woken up from his coma, he wants to talk to you." Then my dad said ecstatically, "Baby cua Bo (Daddy's baby girl)! I'm gonna be okay. Everything is gonna be okay!" He sounded so happy. I woke up and immediately picked up my phone to call the hospital to talk to my dad, but realized it was only a dream. 7 hours later, the same nurse called me to say he wasn't going to make it. As I broke down on the ground sobbing, the warm sun blanketed my face, and I felt his love comforting me.
I miss his laugh, and everytime around 6-7pm, I still find myself waiting for his daily calls to tell me he misses me, he loves me and I owe him a big hug. My only consolation is that the last time I heard his voice (even if it was only a dream), he was telling me that "Everything will be okay."
Thank you to our Family and Friends who traveled from near and far (from New Orleans, California, Miami, and even Canada) to attend my dad's wake / funeral and celebrate his life. He touched many lives and his love and generosity will never be forgotten. Thank you also to all those who gave flowers, everything was so beautiful and my dad would've been so happy. Thank you also to those who celebrated his life by sharing a meal with us at some of his favorite restaurants/food. ❤
Please continue to pray for my Dad, my sweet mom Nancy Bui and our family during this difficult time.
All of my life, you’ve been my biggest source of encouragement. You dreamed and aspired dreams for me I never thought I was capable of achieving. Even in times of self-doubt, you taught me that anything is possible if I believed in myself, worked hard and had faith… God would handle the rest. You loved your family so much and were the hardest working person I’ve ever known. Working 6 days a week, forgoing vacations just to provide for our family so we could have what we needed to succeed. The Homecoming picture was one of your favorites, and you promised me that day that you’d “Always be by my Side”. I’m so heartbroken that you’re no longer with me physically… but I know that you’ll still be here by my side, forever.
I love you daddy,
Your Little Mulan
Khang Trong Bui
Khang & Quy's Wedding
