Anthony Ralph Kassab, 88, passed away on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at Freeman Hospital.
He was born on July 24, 1926 at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, MO to Ralph and Lillian Kassab. He was predeceased by his brother Leon and sister Martha.
He attended Joplin High School and had already enlisted in the US Army Air Corps by the time he’d graduated in 1944. He trained as a bomber crewman and was discharged at the end of WW II.
After attending Joplin Junior College for two years, he enrolled at Missouri University. He joined the Sigma Nu Fraternity and was very active in several campus activities.
Following graduation, he joined his brother Leon Kassab in the family business “Kassab”, which was in business on Main St. for 92 years. Anthony was involved in several civic organizations. He was a member of Rotary, Director of United Missouri Bank, and on the Board of Regents at MSSU, which was responsible for the hiring of Julio León. He was extremely proud of Joplin and always active in its progress and beautification, which included the saving of the Chert Glades at Wildcat Park.
He is survived by his wife Maridan, of sixty-one years; and daughters, Joy Kassab Lowe (Mike), Marilil Kassab Olive (Paul), Betsy Kassab Taylor (Erick), and Martha Kassab Chaney (Jim). Daughter Anne Kassab Olive pre-deceased him in December 2012. He is also survived by twelve grandchildren; Anthony Michael Lowe, Sarah Anne Lowe, George Chapman Olive, Henry Murphy Olive, David Kassab Olive, Lillian Nicole Olive, Frances Pauline Olive, Charles William Dunn, Anne Stanley Dunn, Madeline Kassab Dunn, Maridan Chaney and Ruth Anne Chaney.
His grandsons will serve as pallbearers as well as his nephews; Anthony Lee Thomas, Robert Roy Thomas, Leon Kassab, William Michael Blanchard, and Ralph Leon Kassab.
Honorary pallbearers are Jon Dermott, Henry W. Robertson, Leland Browne, and John Cragin.
Funeral services for Mr. Kassab are 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 29, 2014, at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Joplin, Missouri with Father Steve Wilson officiating. Burial will follow in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Webb City, Missouri. Friends may pay their respects on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. in the chapel of Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary in Joplin.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be given to his beloved, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church for window restoration. On-line condolences may be sent to the family through the website www.thornhilldillon.com. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of the Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary in Joplin, Missouri.
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