Ott Hong Lim

He is survived by sons George York Lim, Dr. John Lim and wife Dr. Mia Hung, Gene Lim and wife Mimi Lim; daughter-in-law Dr. Lyna Lee Lim; grandchildren Jonathan Lim and wife Nancy Lim, Jamie Shing and husband Jason Shing, and Justin Lim; great grandchildren Everly Lim, Nicolas Lim, and Penelope Shing; and many extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 66 years, Chi C. Lim in 2014.

Born in Canton, China November 9, 1927, third eldest in a family of nine siblings, he devoted much of his life to his family and their future.

He began working as an early teen in his family's money exchange business during WWII. His duties included transporting gold bullion by foot and bicycle on dirt roads between towns as far as 20 miles away, all while evading armed bandits.

Immigrating to the United States in 1952, he quickly joined older brothers Bock and Wayne in their grocery business. Soon after arriving though, he was forced into and survived a nearly two year long battle with tuberculosis that included quarantine and surgery in Tyler, TX. After an extremely difficult and dangerous surgical operation and successful recovery, he was able to rejoin his brothers in the family business.

After surviving disease, he worked vigorously with his brothers to help support the family back home. With his wife, children, and extended family still in Hong Kong, new immigration laws took effect that would circumvent any possibility of a reunion. He would be separated from his children for 9 years, and his wife for more than 13, before new laws were adopted and a reunion was made possible.

By the mid 1960's Ott's efforts with the help of brothers Bock and Wayne had finally come to fruition. His wife, children, father, siblings, nieces, and nephews were finally reunited in America. His hope and dreams finally coming true.

In 1966 with wife and children finally together in America, he opened and successfully ran his own grocery store, O.J. Food Market until 1980.

In the early 1980's he and brothers Bock and Chun Wing opened one of the first local Chinese movie theaters, Happy Theater in Houston's Downtown Chinatown District.

In his retirement years he worked at Lim's Florist, helping write ribbons in Chinese for their floral arrangements, utilizing his profound knowledge of the Chinese language and writing that he loved to study.

He lived a long, eventful life of sacrifice, sometimes pain, and ultimately joy. He loved, cherished, and cared for his family above all else. He was most proud of all of the accomplishments of his family and was well rewarded with all of their success.

After losing his wife Chi in 2014, Ott had lived with a broken heart, patiently waiting to rejoin the love of his life. Now that his wish has finally arrived, may they forever live in eternal happiness.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in his memory to the Chinese Baptist Church, 900 Brogden Road, Houston, Texas 77024