Cynthia A. Lin

Cynthia Arthur Lin, 79, of Westerville passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, July 10, after an inspiring journey through pancreatic cancer. Cynthia was born in Niagara Falls, New York, on April 15, 1943 to Allen Joseph Arthur and Marjorie Brasington Arthur. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech and Hearing Pathology from the State University of New York at Fredonia and a Master of Science degree in Special Education from Canisius College and St. Mary’s School for the Deaf. She taught for three years at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf.

Cynthia married Kingso Chingtsung Lin in 1966. Together, they owned and managed several businesses, including one of Ohio’s first Chinese restaurants, The Golden Wok in downtown Newark. They spent many years manufacturing, importing and distributing golf equipment, work that led them to travel across the country and around the world. As chemist Kingso described recently, Cynthia was the nucleus of their businesses, holding everything together. Many of their years were spent in Newark, Ohio, and then Orlando, Florida. Most recently, they lived in Westerville, Ohio. Wherever they lived, or traveled, Cynthia made lifelong friends.

Cynthia and Kingso had two children, Sonya and Wayne. Cynthia was an active and involved parent, enjoying many dance recitals and baseball games, serving as a room mother, and always advocating for her children. As they grew up, she enjoyed her adult children and their spouses, David Thesing and Elizabeth Young. She created a home that was always welcoming and was the site of many birthday parties, company gatherings, an annual December 27 Christmas party, and weekly Bible studies. Her children’s friends felt at home on Tower Court and could always count on Cynthia when they needed a trusted adult. Her hospitality extended to nieces and nephews who spent summers in Ohio, relatives from Taiwan who were attending Ohio State, and business associates who visited the USA.

She was an active leader at churches she attended in Newark, Orlando, and Westerville, often serving on boards and committees, and as a deacon. Her favorite ministry was Stephen Ministry because it was a way to love and care for people in need the way Christ taught us to. Some notes that she left for Sonya and Wayne said that she felt called to help people experiencing sadness so they would not have to be alone.

In addition to her church activities, Cynthia was involved in a range of community activities: League of Women Voters, volunteering for political campaigns, serving on homeowners associations, reading to children in the Kelton House Underground Railroad Learning Station, and helping families at Give Children the World in Orlando. She loved to read, garden, and walk. Her family was accustomed to doing jigsaw puzzles with her as a way to spend time together. She was a serious genealogist and a great resource for her family members’ research. In Orlando, she enjoyed her Mahjong Club and Writers Roost group. She wrote a book of stories of her life as well as special 13th birthday books for each of her grandsons. Her friends and family will miss her famous homemade greeting cards and handwritten notes.

She traveled with Kingso and with friends to destinations including Europe, Australia, New Zealand, China, Taiwan - once to visit Sonya, and Hong Kong - once to visit Wayne and Elizabeth. One of her favorite trips was with her “Co-Mother” (Elizabeth’s mother) to visit cathedrals in France. She planned fun, but always educational, trips for her children, nieces and nephews - there was a museum included in every vacation.

Above all, her family was her source of joy. She was a stand out mother to Sonya and Wayne. Raising them during the 1970s, Cynthia was committed to guiding her children toward equality. To see her with her four grandsons, Max and Garrett Thesing and Freddie and Henry Lin, was to witness the truest, most magical love. She was proud of their academic and athletic achievements, but mostly of the young men they grew to be. Grandparents Day at their schools was a highlight of every year. During years in Orlando, season passes to Disney World allowed Cynthia memorable time with her family. Her favorite ride was “It’s a Small World” and she loved to shop at EPCOT.

Cynthia is survived by her loving family; husband Kingso Lin; daughter and son-in-law Sonya and David Thesing and their sons Maxwell and Garrett; son and daughter-in-law Wayne Lin and Elizabeth Young and their sons Frederick and Henry. She will be missed by her siblings: sister Ruthann Beck and her husband Ron and their family; brother Les Arthur and his wife Kathy and their family; and sister- and brother-in-law Mary and Kun-Chou Lin and their family. Cynthia was blessed with many close friends who lifted her in love and prayer during her health journey. Her friends at Deer Run kept her going through her cancer journey with walks and patio visits.

An often quoted bible verse, 1 Corinthians 13 was Cynthia’s favorite. Please take a moment to read it. Cynthia spent her life aspiring to live it.

If you would like to make a memorial contribution in Cynthia’s honor, please consider The Ohio State University James Cancer Hospital, https://cancer.osu.edu/for-donors-and-volunteers/how-to-donate or The Ohio State University Foundation, 14 E. 15th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43201, with “Cancer Strategic Support Fund” in the memo line.

The family will receive visitors on Saturday, July 23 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Schoedinger Margarum Northeast Funeral Home, 1051 E Johnstown Rd, Gahanna, OH 43230. A memorial service will follow at 4:00. The family suggests guests take a COVID test at home prior to visiting.