Eugenia Ling Pon (Lin You Cheng), the family matriarch, died on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at the Neighborhoods at Quail Creek in Springfield, Missouri.

In her time, Eugenia was one of those great, tempestuous beauties (think Vivian Leigh's Scarlet O'Hara), and always her own unique, opinionated and feisty self. By her own account she had many a beau, but picked her husband (the late Richard S. Pon), because he was handsome, educated, could quote Chinese poetry at length, and was "that much taller"—gesturing about half an inch with her fingers—than her previous boyfriends. Her father, Lin Xiao Qiu, the much-loved Postmaster General of Shanghai, China, judiciously made sure that all his sons and daughters were college educated. Eugenia's first job was as an elementary school teacher, teaching math and English to her charges. One loved her so much she was gifted a live white goose. She'd later serve as an accountant at a bank; she was quick with numbers and her hands could fly on an abacus.

Introduced by one of her relatives, Eugenia met her husband when he was a U.S. Army sergeant stationed nearby. They were married in Shanghai by a Methodist minister in a Western style wedding with white gown and tux, followed by a Chinese wedding with the traditional red gown, seven changes of wardrobe for the bride, and a huge wedding banquet.

The couple eventually moved to the U.S. Her husband finished his graduate studies in plant pathology, they grew their family, and Eugenia became a full-time homemaker. She used her teaching skills to make sure each and every one of her six children knew the alphabet, how to count, and how to print their names before they entered first grade. Eugenia never cooked in China, but she learned to make delectable Chinese food for her husband and great fried chicken, apple pies and other "American" food for her children. She made the most marvelous egg rolls stuffed with cabbage and turkey leftover from Thanksgiving dinner.

Eugenia was a gifted storyteller (regaling us with many stories from her past), extremely loquacious and social. The family moved a lot, all over the United States map, and she had lots of American friends. After her husband's passing, she connected with neighbors that she had only known briefly before. She would befriend young Chinese mothers, her "adopted" daughters, often babysitting their children in her home. Finally, Eugenia would move from the family home in New York to Missouri to live with her youngest son Mark, who ensured that her final decades were carefree and comfortable.

The hearts of her extended family from all over the globe will be with Eugenia forever, and she will be greatly missed.

Eugenia is survived by:

1) her siblings: Lin Shao Qiu, Lin You De, many nieces, nephews and respective families.

2) her children: Jonathan (Aggie) Pon, Rowena Pon (William Muehlenhard), Elaine Pon, Chris (Becky Thomas) Pon, and Mark Pon.

3) her grandchildren: Damira (Andy) Kainz, Dana Pon, Samantha (Michael) Connelly, Daren (Becky) Pon, Derek Pon, McKenzie Pon, and Lily Muehlenhard.

and

4) her great granddaughter: Kira Kainz

Preceding Eugenia in death are her husband, Richard S. Pon, her sister Lin You Chen and her son, David M. Pon, who, also, are in the family's hearts and greatly missed.

Family requests contributions may be made to the Salvation Army at:

https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/

Arrangements entrusted to McHoul Funeral Home Inc., 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533, Phone: 845-221-2000, Fax: 845-227-1862,

hopewell@mchoulfuneralhome.com