Abe F. Blindman

Abe F. Blindman, 94, passed away January 8 in Memphis, Tennessee. The youngest of six children, Abe was born September 17, 1918, to the late Frank and Rose Blindman and was raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota and served in World War II from 1942-1946. Abe and his brother and brother-in-law expanded the family manufacturing business to Jonesboro, Arkansas, in 1956 when they established Southern Wooden Box, Inc. The company, of which Abe was president and CEO, was one of the country's largest manufacturers of wooden beverage cases for the soft drink industry before it was sold in 1988. Abe was an astute businessman and demonstrated his leadership and love for the community through his civic involvement. He served on the boards of the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce and the Jonesboro Rotary Club; he was also on the boards and served two terms each as president of the Jonesboro Country Club and Temple Israel. He was actively involved in Friends of the Library, the Foundation of the Arts, and the Arkansas State University Red Wolves Club. Abe and his wife, Marna Lee, were married 60 years before she passed away in 2011. They raised three children in Jonesboro, traveled extensively, and ardently supported ASU Athletics. Abe was an avid golfer, and he and Marna enjoyed many golfing trips with their Jonesboro friends. Known for his outgoing personality and sense of humor, he never met a stranger and was especially affable around a poker table. He is survived by daughter Debbie Lazarov and husband Ron of Memphis; son Scott and wife Sheila of Jonesboro; son David and wife Ida of Memphis; grandchildren, Adam Lazarov and wife Jami, Amy Lazarov, Jake Blindman, and Lindsey and Paige Houston; his sister Anne Levitt, 98, of Cherry Hill, New Jersey; and several nieces and nephews of whom he was very fond. The family especially wishes to thank the staff at The Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab for their extraordinary care during Abe’s last six months. Visitation will be at Temple Israel in Jonesboro on Wednesday, January 9 at 1:00 p.m. followed by a memorial service, also at Temple Israel in Jonesboro, at 2:00. A private burial will be at Temple Israel Cemetery in Jonesboro after the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorials to Rabbi Greenstein's Discretionary Fund at Temple Israel in Memphis,1376 East Massey Road, Memphis, TN 38120; or The Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab, 36 Bazeberry Road, Cordova, TN 38018; or Temple Israel in Jonesboro, c/o B. Weinstock, 208 Wilkins, Jonesboro, AR 72401.