Stephen Yip was born in Canton, China on May 5, 1952. He survived the Cultural Revolution in China as a teenager, eventually making his way to the United States. In time, Stephen was an entrepreneur with his wife, Sau Yung Lee, when they took over as owners of King Wah Restaurant in 1995. They owned and operated King Wah for 25 years, until retiring in June 2020.
It is rare that a person's passion is their work. Stephen cooked day in and out and still immensely enjoyed cooking at home. He loved to try new things and see if he could replicate it on his own. Stephen had a fondness for Cantonese ballads and American Country music. He seemed larger than life and constantly on the go, commonly seen with a smile and readily greeted people.
Stephen is survived by his wife Sau Yung Lee, his two daughters Julia Yip and Betty Spaulding, nee Yip, his brother Choi Sun Yip, his sister Suet Fei Li and several nephews and nieces.
