Kyong Sun Lock

Kyong Sun (Chi) Lock, age 93, passed away peacefully on February 1, 2026.

Chi was born on March 12, 1932, in Haeju City, Korea during a time of great hardship and uncertainty. The country was under Japanese occupation, and her daily life in a rural village north of Seoul was marked by scarcity and resilience. After the very early passing of her mother, Chi was raised by her father and grandmother, whose strength and devotion shaped her character and instilled in her a deep sense of perseverance and family loyalty. Her family migrated from Haeju City to Seoul before the establishment of the 38th parallel, an artifact of World War II. Her young adulthood coincided with the Korean War, a devastating conflict that tore families apart and forever changed the Korean peninsula. Like many of her generation, Chi endured these turbulent years with quiet resolve, carrying forward a resilience forged in difficult times.

Chi met and married a former United States Army soldier William O. Lock Jr. (Bill) in Seoul in the 1960s. Several years later, she began a new chapter of her life in the United States, joining the Lock family in Fulton, Kentucky. Primarily a homemaker, she devoted herself to creating a warm and stable home as Bill pursued his career as an equipment specialist with the Federal Civilian Government supporting the U.S. military.

Due to Bill's work, Chi and he and their family moved frequently for the Civil Service, living in Fayetteville, North Carolina; St. Louis, Missouri; Busan, Korea; and Fairbanks, Alaska, before eventually settling in Olympia, Washington. There, Chi and Bill—by then retired—built a home centered on nature and self-sufficiency. Their days were filled with gardening that kept them busy and happily exhausted, rewarded by a pantry overflowing with fresh vegetables, including many Korean varieties grown from seeds that originated in Korea. They were known for their organic garlic, and their bountiful vines of beans, grapes and raspberries. Her dahlias were spectacular.

Chi found great joy in the outdoors. She loved fishing, swimming and especially clamming in the nearby estuaries of the Puget Sound. When she wasn't working in the garden, she could often be found planning trips to Washington's natural saunas, embracing the restorative calm of the natural world she so deeply loved.

She was a devoted member of the Korean Church in Lacey, loved bible study and spent much time with the many Korean-American ladies who cooked up traditional Korean dishes for the church events. Cooking would remain a joy for her all of her life and her friends and family were rewarded with delicious mandoo, chapchae, and kimchi.

After Bill's passing in 2011, Chi moved in 2013 to Maryland to live with her son, Howard and his wife Sarah. There, she cherished time spent with her grandchildren, Isabelle and Emily, creating years filled with love, laughter, and treasured memories. She continued tending small gardens, bird-watching, enjoyed occasional fishing, and developed a fondness for Chesapeake Bay blue crabs, a delight she came to truly savor.

Chi is survived by her children and grandchildren. Chi will be remembered for her resilience, her devotion to family, and the quiet strength with which she lived her life. Her journey—from Korea to the United States, through decades of change and challenge—was marked by perseverance, love, and grace. She leaves behind a legacy rooted in family, nature, and a life well lived.

She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered. A private service will be held with close family in Olympia, WA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Chi's memory be made to the Pearl S. Buck International at https://pearlsbuck.org/honor/. To learn more, see the virtual exhibit: https://pearlsbuck.org/korea-foundation/