Ralph Charles Zarr Obituary (1921 - 2012)

Ralph Charles Zarr, 91, of Leawood, KS, passed away Wednesday, December 26, 2012 at Village Shalom. Funeral services will be at 10:30am Friday, December 28, at The Louis Memorial Chapel, 6830 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, MO with burial to follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, American Diabetes Association or American Heart Association. Mr. Zarr was born September 26, 1921 in Trinidad, CO. He came to Kansas City at the age of six, attending Bancroft elementary school, graduating from Westport High School, attending Kansas City Junior College and the University of Missouri – Columbia, where he was active in the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. In 1944, he married his childhood sweetheart, Paula Rose Cohn. With his father Bernard and brother Ben, they started Quality Hill Dress Mfg. Co., a ladies apparel manufacturer, which operated for thirty years in the Kansas City garment industry. Following that, he moved into the field of gerontology as an administrator of a nursing home and a developer of a retirement center. Later, he moved into the field of financial advisor to senior citizens as an expert in long term care insurance. Mr. Zarr was a member of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah where he was director of the religious school and later served as president. He served as a director of the Kansas City Apparel Association; President of Quality Hill Dress Company; city chairman of the Kansas City Chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews; served as city chairman of the city-wide Fair Housing Rally in 1976. Mr. Zarr was a longtime member of Oakwood Country Club of which he served as vice-president and was a lifelong charter member of the “Bogey Bums”. He was an avid golfer and had lots of artistic talent. He loved to paint landscapes and do charcoal drawings for personal enjoyment. Mr. Zarr had a wonderful sense of humor and always greeted you with a warm smile. He also had a special place in his heart for his grandchildren. Mr. Zarr was a member of the Army Air Corps during World War II. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard and Ethel Zarr and his sister, Geneva Durwood O’Maley. Mr. Zarr is survived by his wife of 68 years, Paula; his daughter and son-in-law: Judy and Charles M. Kahn; sons and daughters-in-law: John and Joyce M. Zarr and Jim and Ann Zarr; granddaughters: Audrey Zarr and husband Ryan Anderson, Amanda Zarr, Emily Zarr, Erin Zarr, Elyse Zarr, Susie and Tom Trese and Amy and Alan Kahn; his great-grandsons: Ben Hansen and Daniel Cohen. Mr. Zarr is also survived by his brother, M. Benjamin Zarr. The family would like to give a very special thanks to the staff at Village Shalom for their warm, loving care. They would also like to thank nieces Ellen Taylor and Jackie Coomes for their love and support for their uncle Ralph and family.