Edward "Eddie" K. Kao died July 19, 2009.
He was born in Shanghai, China, on December 21, 1927, the youngest of seven children of Luen-Ken and Chen
Chu Kao.
He was educated at Aurora University in Shanghai and Antioch College of Liberal Arts in Ohio, and served
as an interpreting officer to the U.S. Army during World War II before embarking on a career in visual
merchandising, marketing and design.
Eddie won many National Association of Display Industries awards in his profession as Corporate Creative
Designer at the Imperial, Forbes & Wallace’s NY Division, and at Uhlman’s 35 department stores
headquartered in Bowling Green.
He met Fern Larking at the Schenectady Civic Theatre where he was involved in acting and set
design/construction. They were married July 22, 1961. Their three sons were born in New York state, and
the family moved to Ohio in 1975.
Eddie and Fern became U.S. citizens in 1986. He was a proud American.
Eddie was a fantastic dancer, loved music and played many musical instruments. He performed piano and
violin on the radio in China. He enjoyed collecting WWII naval memorabilia and toys.
He was an artist, and his mediums were watercolor, pastel, and ink. His love of the American way of life
was evident in his portraits, landscapes and still-lifes. He displayed his artwork at the Black Swamp
Arts Festival and the Wood County Fair for many years, and hand-painted the family Christmas cards for
11 years.
He is survived by his wife, Fern; son, Brian (Lisa) of Fresno, Calif.; son, Alan (Rebecca Sears) of
Toledo, Ohio; brother, Irving (Helen); sister, Laura Loughridge; brother-in-law, Alfred Ho; and many
nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Stephen; two brothers, K.D. and George; and two sisters,
Julia Hess and Marjorie Ho. He leaves behind beloved pets: cat, Platinum and corgie, Cleo.
Visitation is Monday, July 27, 2009 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dunn Funeral Home.
Funeral is 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at Dunn Funeral Home, with burial at Oak Grove Cemetery,
with an open house to follow.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Bowling Green Manor Activities Fund, Bridge Hospice or
the Humane Society.