Richard George Joseph

R ichard George Joseph died peacefully Jan. 26, 2022 at Otterbein Sunset House, Toledo, where he had been a resident for 15 months. He was 95.

Richard lived a full, rich life with an intense focus on his family, church, many friends, and varied interests. He was a great believer in maintaining order and upholding protocol – that following the rules made you a better person – which he practiced most of his adult life. Generations of youth at his beloved St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church, where he was a constant fixture and served as head usher for more than 60 years, would thank Richard later in life for his unyielding guidance.

Rarely would Richard turn up at an event of any kind not wearing a suit and tie; it was his trademark. This was not formal dress to him, but rather a way to show respect to others – that people mattered to him. And his dress code became an integral part of his warm, gregarious and gracious personality.

As a life-long Toledo resident, he had deep roots in the community. Richard was quick to smile, with a twinkle in his eye and a kind word to all he met. He was friendly, compassionate, and personable, gaining a large number of diverse friends, who appreciated his kindness and held him in high esteem.

Of utmost importance to Richard were honesty, respect, dignity and compassion, which served as guiding principles. He had a strong desire to help those less fortunate; he practiced and advocated service to homeless shelters in Toledo, in particular St. Paul’s Community Center.

Richard was born Aug. 3, 1926, in Toledo to George and Edma (Jamra) Joseph, Lebanese immigrants. His heritage was a source of great pride throughout his life. He grew up in North Toledo, the youngest of seven children. Richard graduated from Woodward High School in 1944. After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Army and honorably served in World War II.

On Jan. 11, 1964, Richard married Shirley A. Rusnak in Pittsburgh, Pa. Richard and Shirley, who celebrated 58 years of marriage this month, raised two sons, Chris/Rick and Tarek.

In his 80s, Richard was blessed with the arrival of three grandsons, who brought him immense joy. Nothing made him happier than time spent with them, while hearing them lovingly call him “Jiddee.”

At an early age, he began developing his sales and social skills while working with his father in the family business, George Joseph Grocery, on the corner of Monroe and Superior Streets in downtown Toledo.

This experience served him well as he made a career out of marketing and sales, first working in advertising for Ohio Bell Telephone Co. in the 1950s, and then other sales positions until he became sales manager for Browning Ferris Industries, where he worked more than 25 years before retiring.

Richard was the last surviving member of Kappa Chi, a fraternity of brothers, cousins and close friends of Lebanese/Syrian descent from North Toledo. Founded in 1938, Kappa Chi members met twice monthly for 60 years and formed a bond of brotherhood that was a wonder to observe.

One of Richard’s most cherished pastimes was dining with friends and family over his favorite Lebanese dishes at The Beirut or Byblos, a tradition he carried on for many years.

Richard was a great promoter of opera in the community. He loved his cats, and enjoyed photography, nature, music and collecting antiques, especially glass - serving as president of the Glass Collectors Club of Toledo. In his youth he loved to ice skate and roller skate and was so proficient at ballroom dancing that he became an instructor at Arthur Murray Dance Studio in downtown Toledo.

Richard was preceded in death by siblings Nazema Jamra, Asaf Joseph, Carl Joseph, Evaughn Michael, Albert Joseph and Madeline Shamy.

Surviving is his wife, Shirley; sons, Tarek [Christine] and Chris/Rick Joseph; grandchildren, Elias, Samir and Alexander Joseph; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Sunday, Jan. 30, from 3-8 p.m. at St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church, 4940 Harroun Rd., Sylvania, where a Trisagion prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be Monday, Jan. 31, at 11 a.m. at St. Elias Church with Very Rev. Archpriest Ayman Kfouf officiating.

Burial will follow in Toledo Memorial Park with a military honors ceremony performed by representatives of the U.S. Army. The funeral service will be shown live on St. Elias’s Facebook page as well the Trisagion prayer service Sunday at 7 p.m.

The family respectfully asks that all visitors to the church wear masks and practice social distancing. Due to COVID, a mercy meal in Richard’s honor will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Richard’s name may be made to St. Elias Church, 4940 Harroun Rd., Sylvania, OH 43560.