Chuen Cheng "Charlie" Chou

December 5, 1942 - August 4, 2021

Chuen Cheng Chou, lovingly known as Charlie to his family and friends, passed away peacefully at home on August 4, 2021, surrounded by loved ones after a battle with cancer. He was 78. Charlie was born in Changhua,Taiwan on December 5, 1942, to Muhua Chou and Yao Lin Chou. With a passion for schooling, he quickly was recognized as a top student throughout primary school. He was the 2nd person in his family to go to college, attending National Cheng Kung University for his bachelor's and National Taiwan University for his master's, in chemistry. In the top of his class, he earned a fellowship for a doctoral program in organic chemistry at the University of Florida arriving in Gainesville, FL in the fall of 1970. In 1966, he met LiHsueh "Snow" (Hsu) Chou and they wed in 1969. They went on to have three children, Nina, Alice, and Rosalind. He entered into the realm of entrepreneurship, becoming the owner of the first Chinese restaurant in Ocala, FL, the Dragon Inn, at 1900 S. Pine Avenue in 1975. He was well known amongst the community for his work in the restaurant industry for decades. Charlie stayed active in the restaurant business and enjoyed time gardening, and spending time with his wife, three children, and granddaughter, Ava. Charlie is survived by his wife Snow; his brother George; his three children, Nina (Chou) Sickler and her husband Steven Sickler, Alice Chou and her husband Andrew Yaphe, and Rosalind Chou; and his granddaughter Ava.