S. Abraham & Sons Chairman Passes Away

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Abe Abraham, co-founder of S. Abraham and Sons (SAS), passed away on Jan. 29. He was 101.

Abraham and his father founded SAS in 1927. For 85 years, Abraham worked alongside his brothers, James and Wade, to make SAS one of the largest distributors of convenience store products in the country.

SAS hosts a vendor exhibit and trade show annually in its hometown of Grand Rapids, Mich. This year, the 28th annual event will take place Feb. 27-28 with the theme, "The Grand Slam -- Spring is in Full Swing." Approximately 1,500 stores are expected to be represented.

Abraham was born in Rashaya, Lebanon, on Aug. 21, 1912. His family migrated to Kansas in 1921 and then moved to Grand Rapids in 1925.

The co-founder of SAS also served as a lieutenant in the United States Army and was stationed in India during World War II.

On Nov. 2, 1947, Abraham married Adele Helen Kaleel and they raised a family of four children. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Alan, daughters, Cheryl Barkett, Carol Assaly and Kaye Powell, as well as 10 grandchildren and five great-granddaughters.

Visitation will be Sunday at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids. A funeral service will take place on Feb. 3. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to St. Nicholas Orthodox Church.