PUBLISHED ONOctober 20, 2026 5:09 AMBYLim KeweiA centenarian who built traditional attap houses to raise eight children before becoming a newspaper vendor has died.
Lim Theng Kow, 101, passed peacefully at home last Friday (Oct 16).
His youngest son, Guicheng (transliteration), told Shin Min Daily News at the funeral wake that he has one brother and six sisters.
Lim, 55, said his father — who came to Singapore from Guangdong, South China with his parents when he was a teenager — initially made a living working in construction, building wooden, stilt and attap houses to support his wife and children.
When demand for traditional houses faded alongside the rise of public housing, Theng Kow began selling newspapers by the roadside.
From around 1987 to 2000, his stall in the Simei area offered various English and Chinese language publications and magazines.
"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.
Despite being illiterate, Theng Kow placed great importance on his children's education.
His youngest son said their father would send them to school on bicycle and supported he and his brother's pursuit of higher education.
"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."
And his secret to living till 101?
Guicheng said his father was not a picky eater.
"Let loose, and worry less. That's his secret," he added.
[[nid:742693]]
