Cynthia Schwab

(From Parker Mortuary)

Cynthia H. Schwab, age 93, died peacefully at home on January 28th, 2025.

A native of New York City, she was a graduate of the Lenox School and Bryn Mawr College. After her marriage she was a resident of Enid, Oklahoma for 15 years, and moved to Joplin, Missouri in 1965. Here she served many local organizations including the Joplin Public Library, Missouri Southern State University, and Connect2Culture. She was active in the Episcopal Church at the parish, diocesan and national levels.

In 1981 she founded Pro Musica, which gathered passionate supporters of the arts to present symphony orchestras, chamber music ensembles, the Joplin Pops, and to provide educational and enrichment programs in local schools. She was deeply honored to receive a Missouri Citizens for the Arts Advocacy Award in 1991, a Missouri Arts Council Award in 1999, and the Missouri Citizens for the Arts Frederick H. Laas Memorial Award in 2002.

She is survived by her children Anne Schwab, Cynthia Chapman, David Schwab (Loretta), William Schwab (Kathleen) and Mike Stephenson; her beloved grandchildren Graham, Ian, Rachel, Rocky, Elli, Zeke, Nacy, Phillip and Elizabeth; and her thirteen great-grandchildren.

She was a woman of ideas, action and grace, and will be much missed.

Services will take place at 1 pm on Thursday, February 13th at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 706 Byers Ave, in Joplin, Mo. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in Cynthia's name to Pro Musica or St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Joplin, Mo.