Ex-newspaper vendor who raised 8 kids and saved $40k to send his son to UK university dies at 101一位曾是报摊老板、养育了8个孩子并攒下4万美元送儿子上英国大学的男子去世，享年101岁。
A 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...
A 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.
Son reveals dad's longevity secret
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.
lim.kewei@asiaone.com
一位百岁老人去世了，他生前建造了传统的亚答屋，养育了八个孩子，之后成为了一名报贩。
101岁的林腾高先生于上周五（10月16日）在家中安详辞世。
他最小的儿子桂城（音译）在葬礼守灵时告诉《新明日报》，他有一个哥哥和六个姐姐。
55岁的林先生说，他的父亲十几岁时随父母从中国南方广东来到新加坡，最初靠建筑为生，建造木屋、高脚屋和亚答屋来养家糊口。
随着公共房屋的兴起，人们对传统房屋的需求逐渐减少，邓高开始在路边卖报纸。
从 1987 年到 2000 年左右，他在四美地区的摊位出售各种英文和中文出版物和杂志。
“他还收集纸箱。街坊邻居都认识他，”桂城说，并补充道，他和他的兄弟姐妹会在饭点和周末帮忙照看摊位。
儿子揭秘父亲长寿秘诀
尽管邓高不识字，但他非常重视子女的教育。
他最小的儿子说，父亲会骑自行车送他们上学，并支持他和哥哥追求高等教育。
“我父亲省吃俭用，在我准备去英国留学的时候，他给了我4万美元。所以我告诉自己，我只会成功，绝不会失败。”
他活到101岁的秘诀是什么？
桂城说他父亲并不挑食。
“放松点，少操心点。这就是他的秘诀，”他补充道。
lim.kewei@asiaone.com