Caroline Rhym Ing

Caroline Rhym Ing passed away on October 18, 2012 in Honolulu, Hawaii where she had lived since 1931. Caroline was born in Chicago, Illinois on December 25, 1913 to Hio Won (Henry) Rhym, an immigrant from Korea and Elizabeth Madden of Colorado.

Caroline met and married Walter S.B. Jhung, a native of Hawaii, on October 16, 1931 and then moved with him to Honolulu in November 1931. Caroline and Walter had three sons, Bryson Jhung of Kailua, Oahu; Grafton Jhung of Greenwood Village, Colorado; and Finis Jhung of New York City. She is survived by her sons Grafton and Finis; three granddaughters, two grandsons and three great grandsons. She was predeceased by her son Bryson.

Caroline and Walter operated a tailor shop at Hickam Air Force Base before World War II began and during the war. Caroline and Walter divorced in 1945 and she continued to operate the tailor shop until 1957. She worked for the Honolulu Star Bulletin in classified sales until 1968 when she joined Hicks Homes in Honolulu and worked there until 1975 when she retired.

Caroline married Matsuo (Lefty) Higuchi of Pearl City, Oahu in 1948. Lefty was an outstanding amateur baseball pitcher in Honolulu pitching for the Asahi and Red Sox teams of the Hawaii Baseball League prior to and following World War II. Lefty served with C Company of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in the War. Caroline and Lefty had no children.

In 1963, Caroline married James W.K. Ing of Kailua, Oahu. Jim was a Sanitation Engineer with the State of Hawaii Sanitation Department until his retirement in 1974. He passed away in 1998. Caroline and Jim had no children, but she is survived by four step children - Sandra L. Peterman of San Diego, California; Douglas J. Ing of Kailua, Oahu; Tina L. Maragos of Kaneohe, Oahu and Darrell M. Ing of Hawaii Kai, Oahu, eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Caroline’s childhood was a difficult one. She lived much of the time in foster homes in Chicago while her father worked to support her. Her marriage to Walter was followed by a move to Honolulu and becoming part of the Jhung “ohana” with his parents living nearby or with them and their growing family for many years. They developed many friendships in the Korean community in Honolulu during their marriage. After her divorce, she was left to operate the tailor shop which had fallen on difficult times after the war. Caroline easily made friends and was always willing to help them. She was respected and loved and will be missed by her family who remember her determination, the hours of hard work and the sacrifices she made to support them as a single parent. Their success is a tribute to her.

Services for Caroline will be held at the Borthwick Mortuary in Honolulu on January 3 at 10 a.m. Private burial services for the family will follow. Contributions in her memory in lieu of flowers may be made to the Jhung Family Foundation Scholarship fund at Hawaii Community Foundation. Aloha attire for the services.

10/24/12