John Phillip Elias

After 66 years of pouring oceans of love, care, and generosity on his legion of family and extended family members, John Phillip Elias was received in the loving hands of his Lord and Savior Jesus and is now making Heaven an even happier place. John died October 24, 2012, after a brief but courageous struggle with cancer.

Born in Akron, where he spent most of his life, John attended Copley High School and Ohio University. Shortly afterwards he began a 35-year career at Fame Beverage Company, rising to the position of Vice President. Following retirement, John and his wife JoAnn purchased a home in Las Vegas. They lived out their dream of spending summers and holidays in Akron with family, and the remainder of the year in their warm weather dream house. Throughout his childhood, school, work, and retirement years, John's perseverance and accomplishments were inspirational to those that knew him, and his personality was absolutely magnetic to everyone else he came across.

John touched many lives with his strict adherence to the Golden Rule and Christian values. This came to him from the upbringing of his late father, John Elias, who was the leading layman during the 1940' and 50's at St. George Church; his late mother, Louise (Thomas) Elias, who established the Sunday School; and his late brother, Richard.

John was happiest when he was surrounded by his family members who will forever cherish his memory: his wife of 41 years, JoAnn; sons, Shawn (Chloe) and John (Denise); daughter, Karrie Elias; granddaughters, Kaitlyn, Kristen, Hannah, Carolyn; grandson, Robert; brother, Atty. Eugene (Terry); sisters, June (Robert) Denious, Maxine Elias, and Cheryl Owen; and nieces, nephews, cousins, and more dear friends than can easily be counted.

The funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, with Frs. Louis Mahshie and John Al-Assaf presiding. Friends may call 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N Miller Rd. Entombment at Lakewood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. George Church Building Fund, 3204 Ridgewood Rd., Akron, OH 44333.