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A centenarian who built traditional attap houses to raise eight children before becoming a newspaper vendor has died.<\/p>\n
Lim Theng Kow, 101, passed peacefully at home last Friday (Oct 16).<\/p>\n
His youngest son, Guicheng (transliteration), told Shin Min Daily News at the funeral wake that he has one brother and six sisters.<\/p>\n
Lim, 55, said his father \u2014 who came to Singapore from Guangdong, South China with his parents when he was a teenager \u2014 initially made a living working in construction, building wooden, stilt and attap houses to support his wife and children.<\/p>\n
When demand for traditional houses faded alongside the rise of public housing, Theng Kow began selling newspapers by the roadside.<\/p>\n
From around 1987 to 2000, his stall in the Simei area offered various English and Chinese language publications and magazines.<\/p>\n
“He also collected cardboard boxes. Everyone in the neighborhood knew him,” said Guicheng, adding that he and his siblings would help man the stall during mealtimes and on the weekends.<\/p>\n
Despite being illiterate, Theng Kow placed great importance on his children’s education.<\/p>\n
His youngest son said their father would send them to school on bicycle and supported he and his brother’s pursuit of higher education.<\/p>\n
“My father scrimped and saved, and when I was preparing to study in the UK, he gave me $40,000. So I told myself that I could only succeed and cannot fail.”<\/p>\n
And his secret to living till 101?<\/p>\n
Guicheng said his father was not a picky eater.<\/p>\n
“Let loose, and worry less. That’s his secret,” he added.<\/p>\n
[[nid:742693]]<\/p>\n
lim.kewei@asiaone.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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