Lillian T. Takahashi

Lillian(Lin) Tayeko TAKAHASHI. Age 84, passed away peacefully on August 9, 2011 in Edmonds, Washington. Lin was born fourth of five children, Roy, Ida, Grace, and Jim in Linnton, Oregon to parents, Susumu and Toku Andow, who emigrated to the Unites States from Japan. Lin or "Noodles", her childhood nickname, grew up in Linnton until the age of 15 while her father worked in the local saw-mills. At the entry of the U.S. into WWII, Lin and her family were ordered to the Minidoka Relocation Camp in Jerome County, Idaho. In 1944, at the age of 18, she left Minidoka camp via train, and traveled across country by herself, to Cleveland, Ohio where she met her older sisters, Ida and Grace. Lin moved to Indiana to attend Franklin College for two years, studying journalism, but later returned to Cleveland. In 1951 she married, Harlan Masato Takahashi and started their family of four children, Marcy, Gail, Leslie and Marc. Lin and her family eventually settled in their home of 37 years in the suburban township of North Olmsted, just west of Cleveland. After retiring, Lin, Harlan, and Gail moved to Shoreline, Washington in 1995. In January 2011, Lin moved to the Amazing Grace Adult Family Home in Edmonds where she received loving and attentive care in her final days.

Lin was a sensitive, fun-loving and gentle soul and her interests reflected these qualities. She was committed to family and friends and had a strong sense of church and community. She loved all children. She was a part-time working mom and very active in her children's school activities, a member of the PTA, a Cub Scout den mother, and an activity planner for a boy's club.

Lin regularly visited her daughter, Leslie, and her grand-children, Kaylen and Toshi, in Wisconsin as they were growing up and they eagerly looked forward to Grandma's visits. She never forgot a birthday and loved writing and sending birthday cards. As retirement neared, Lin actively participated in the Cleveland Area Retired Persons (CARP) social group; established for second generation Japanese Americans. Lin retired after a 22-year career at Liberty Mutual, and soon moved to Seattle with Harlan and Gail to be closer to her daughter, Marcy, and son-in-law, David. As she grew older, she traveled less but she always looked forward to the visits by her son Marc, his wife Karen, and their two girls Hope and Clara.

Lin's interests were varied and numerous and included Cleveland community work as a private reading tutor for illiterate children. Since her youth, she was an avid Cleveland Indians baseball fan. She loved listening to all sorts of music ranging from Broadway musicals, classical and the Beatles. Lin lived a healthy lifestyle and stayed active with square dancing, line dancing and aerobic exercises. Scrabble was one of the many word games she loved to play at family gatherings and celebrations. All these interests continued when she moved to Seattle and joined the Broadview Community United Church of Christ. Here, she used her journalistic talents as the editor of the Steeple News. Lin was a wonderful, loving wife, mother and grandmother and her friendliness and generosity will be missed by all who knew her.

Lin is survived by four children, Marcy, Gail, Leslie and Marc; son-in-law, David L. Martin; daughter-in-law, Karen Gaffigan Takahashi; and four grandchildren, Kaylen, Toshiro, Hope and Clara.