Dora Tha King's Obituary
Dora was born circa 1938 in Tha Daw Gone Village, a small village near Pathein, Burma (Myanmar). She
had one brother, Nelson, and three sisters, May Kho, Lar Po, and Angela.
Dora's childhood was difficult; she often recalled stories of hiding from soldiers in the jungle for weeks,
surviving only on rice and water. In her early twenties, she moved to Pathein and found work as a
receptionist in a dental office. There, she met and married Daniel Win, a charismatic, witty, and
determined man. Daniel came from a family that owned a prosperous printing company and had a
comfortable upbringing, vastly different from Dora's upbringing in the village.
However, years later, the junta imposed heavy taxes on all local businesses, making it impossible for many
families to survive. As a result, they faced imprisonment and had no choice but to flee the country. Daniel
and Dora were the last of their family to escape from Burma. At the time, Dora was pregnant with their
first daughter, Angela. To escape, they walked through Burma into Thailand, concealing jewels and
money in their clothing. After a long and treacherous journey, they were finally reunited with the rest of
their family in Taiwan.
The family immigrated to the UK and began life as first-generation immigrants in the Western world.
Daniel and Dora had two more children, David and Belinda. Years later, they and the children moved to
the U.S. to start over again, chasing the American dream. Daniel passed away in 1999. After struggling
with grief and loss, Dora became independent and worked at EPI as a manager for many years. She
mentored many of the Asian immigrants who came to work for her. Dora created a close bond and was
active with Dallas's Karen/Burmese community. She loved the Plano East Church of Christ
congregation and made many friends there. She attended service every Sunday.
Everyone loved Dora, especially her soft, sweet nature. Despite her hardships, she never complained and
was always ready to help others. Dora loved her garden and growing her favorite flowers, tomatoes, and
bitter lemon squash. She and her sister Angela enjoyed playing the slot machines at Winstar Casino. Dora
also loved fishing with her sister Angela and Angela's grandkids, Jackson, Brady, and Reid.
Dora will be remembered for her cooking, especially her famous homemade egg rolls. Every Chinese
New Year, Dora diligently prepared the filling and hand-rolled each one with love. She took pride in
preparing them for every Chinese New Year. Making them would take two days, but Dora never cut
corners. She taught all the cousins, including Jennifer and Jessica. Angela and David also inherited her
culinary skills, including how to make Dora's special egg curry.
Dora met Ron King, who lived in the house behind hers. They formed a friendship and eventually
married in 2005. In the early years of their marriage, they traveled extensively before the health issues of
both of them. Ron died in 2022.
Surviving a stroke and also a severe bout with pneumonia, Dora spent the last years with her daughter
Belinda and her family. She also had the chance to live in France for six months with her family.
Dora's joy was in her grandkids: John David, Trevor, Boris, Marcel, Jules, Clémence, and Rock.
Photographs of her beloved grandkids filled the shelves of her bedroom. Dora cherished every moment
she spent with them. She loved attending Marcel's soccer games, reading to Clémence, and teaching
Jules to make her delicious chicken coconut soup. Dora called her best friend, Prani, twice every day. She
looked forward to her fishing trips in East Texas. She loved classic musicals, Christmas movies, and
Korean movies. Dora had her unwavering faith and always slept with her Bible next to her.
Rest in peace, beloved Mother, Grandmother, Auntie, and Sister. We love you so very much.
What’s your fondest memory of Dora?
What’s a lesson you learned from Dora?
Share a story where Dora's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Dora you’ll never forget.
How did Dora make you smile?
