Obituary

Dr. Dong Wha Kim (Don), age 90, of Chester, Virginia, died peacefully on October 17, 2025. He was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years Marilyn Kim, his mother Young Hee Kim, and his father Sang Hyun Kim.

Don is survived by his son Dr. Brian Kim, wife Kim, and their children Mitchell, Meredith, and Mallory; his son Scott Kim, wife Jeanette, and their children Natalie and Andrew; and his daughter Dr. Laura Hassen, husband Chris, and their children Nadia and Nathaniel. He is also survived by his brother, Dr. Dong Kwang Kim, sisters Young Ja Kim and Kyung Ja Kim; sister-in-law Wilma Weidman, and their spouses and children.

Don was born in Korea, attended Kyunggi High School, and moved to the United States to attend Clemson University in South Carolina. He majored in textile engineering and graduated from Clemson in 1959. He then earned his PhD from North Carolina State University in 1968. He and Marilyn met and were married in Raleigh, North Carolina. They started their family in Chapel Hill and moved to Chester, Virginia where Don had a long and successful career as a Senior Scientist at Allied Signal (now Honeywell). He retired to become a full-time caregiver for Marilyn when she became ill. Don was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.

He was a member of Chester Presbyterian Church and served as a deacon and financial secretary there. He also served as a liaison for the Korean Presbyterian Church. Don will be remembered as an avid fan of Clemson and North Carolina State University athletics, the tennis Majors, and the PGA tour. He was a long-time tennis player and golfer himself, playing both sports well into his eighties. He also enjoyed swimming in the ocean during family vacations to Nags Head, and in later years at the Chester YMCA pool. He and Marilyn were fortunate to have traveled around the world together.

Don’s family would like to thank his caregivers and the staff at Spring Arbor of Salisbury and At Home Care Hospice for providing compassionate care in his final days. A memorial service will be held at 12 pm on Saturday, December 27 at Chester Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Feed More/Meals on Wheels in memory of Don and Marilyn Kim.