Sun Ock Yim

Sun was born on February 6, 1938 in Hamhung, North Korea. In the 1950’s her family fled North Korea communist persecution and settled in South Korea.

She attended Ewha Women’s University in Seoul and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry in 1960 and a Pharmacy degree in 1963. She moved to the United States later that year to meet up with her then fiancé, Seong B. Yim, and was married in Chicago, Illinois on November 23, 1963.

As a newlywed couple, Sun and Seong moved to Houston, Texas where they started their family life and careers. Sun entered into cancer research devoting her career at Baylor University, The Stehlin Foundation, and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Sun retired in 2005, after 40 plus years in cancer research. She and Seong enjoyed their retirement years in Seattle, Washington where they spent fifteen years enjoying their newly found community of friends, Federal Way Mission Church, walks on the beach, swimming, hiking the nearby mountains and playing golf.

She was preceded in death by her father, Ryou Jae Bok, and her mother, Han Kum Ock.

She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Seong B. Yim, and her three children, Peter Yim (wife Robyn), Susan Yim-Lombardi, and Rebecca “Becky” Walters (husband AAron). She is also survived by her loving grandchildren, Paige Yim-Jones (husband Chris), Brayden Yim, Wendi Yim, Benjamin Lombardi, Nicholas Lombardi, Jacob Walters, and Lucas Walters.