Bicyclist remembered as good mother

Eron Ben-Yehuda

Teruko Takeuchi of Huntington Beach should be remembered at Sunday’s

funeral service for the sacrifices she made for her family, her son said.

“I just have the greatest pride in her for being such a great mom,” said

Daniel Takeuchi, 18. “She did everything for her kids.”

When she suffered a pinched nerve in her back, she refused to visit the

doctor because her duties as a housewife kept her so busy, he said.

On Sunday, Takeuchi was riding her bicycle on her way to pick up a

newspaper at the market when a van fatally struck her, he said.

The 52-year-old mother of three had started bike riding recently for

exercise.

“She said, ‘I’m getting a little old,”’ her son recalled.

At about 9 a.m., Teruko Takeuchi was traveling in the bike lane just

north of the intersection at Magnolia Street and Atlanta Avenue when a

1995 Chevrolet Astro rammed into her, Huntington Beach Police Lt. Chuck

Thomas said. She was dragged under the van after the impact, officials

said.

She wasn’t wearing a helmet and died instantly from head injuries, Thomas

said.

Thomas Bowers, 61, of Costa Mesa was arrested on suspicion of driving

under the influence and manslaughter.Memorial services in Japanese will

be held at 4 p.m. Sunday at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 9812

Hamilton Ave., Huntington Beach.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to a

charitable memorial fund in her name at the church.