William Schwab

(From Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary)

William S. Schwab, Jr., 90, of Rogers, Arkansas, passed away at Circle of Life Hospice Home in Bentonville, Arkansas, on December 30, 2018.

He was born March 2, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri, to William and Frances (Newman) Schwab. He served in the U.S. Army from 1945-46, and graduated from the University of Chicago in 1949, and the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School in 1951, receiving his master’s degree.

He was the president and chairman of the board of Newman Mercantile Co. and served on many corporate boards, public and private, including: St. John’s Regional Medical Center; Missouri Southern State College; the Joplin Chamber of Commerce; the Enid, Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce; and the National Retail Merchants Association – Small Stores Division. He was a member of the United Hebrew Congregation of Joplin.

He is survived by his wife, Rosemary, of Rogers, Arkansas; his children, William Schwab, III, and wife, Kathleen, of Cleveland Heights, Ohio; David Schwab and wife, Loretta, of Miami, Florida, Anne Essig of Joplin, Missouri, Cynthia Stephenson Chapman and husband, Ed, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Anne Schwab of Shawnee Mission, Kansas, and Amy Sill and husband, Darren, of Joplin; 16 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brother, Richard Schwab, and wife, Rochelle, of Alexandria, Virginia; brother-in-law, John Blumenfeld, of St. Louis, Missouri; and sisters-in-law, Charlotte Herrmann of West Des Moines, Iowa, and Patty Bullard and husband, Jim, of Rogers.

He was preceded in death by children, Beth Post and Clark Post; and a sister, Laura Blumenfeld.

He wished to thank all friends and associates for the opportunity to have been able to serve the communities in which he lived.

Private graveside services were held at Mt. Hope Cemetery on Wednesday, January 2, 2019. Memorial donations may be made to United Hebrew Congregation of Joplin (uhcjoplin.org), Joplin Humane Society or Circle of Life Hospice Home in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary, Joplin, Missouri.