Rajah Alexander Arab was born on February 23, 1929 in Fort Bragg, NC to Alexander Assad Arab (d) and Najla Boutros Arab (d), both immigrants from Lebanon. He is survived by his wife Jamale Chouery Arab (married September 3, 1955), son Alex Arab (wife Kathy Ross), five grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren. Preceding him in death are daughter Zana Arab Sugg (d 2016, widower Steve Sugg) and sisters, Ida Helen Arab, Renee Katherine Arab Aysse, Linda Grace Arab Kaneklides, and Nadya Hortense Arab Kaneklides.
Rajah was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville, NC 1929-1995 where he sang in the Youth Choir and served as a deacon. He became an Eagle Scout in 1945 through Troop 2. Rajah graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1947, and attended NC State University from 1947-1949, then served in the US Army from 1951-1953, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant. Rajah was always willing to work wherever a need arose, beginning with his first job delivering papers for the Fayetteville Observer from 1941-1943, then delivering special delivery letters for the USPS during summers at Wrightsville Beach, making glasses at Whitehead optometry, and serving as Radio-Tinkerer/Repairman with Owens Electric. Before and after his military service, he owned/operated Fred's Cafe (1947-1965) and later worked for the USPS as a Letter Carrier and Mechanic (1965-1991).
Community service was a regular priority for Rajah as he was the Scoutmaster (BSA) at First Presbyterian, a Past Master in Phoenix Lodge #8 (32nd degree Mason), a Shriner with Sudan Temple, Treasurer for the Letter Carrier’s Union (NALC), and Engineer on the MacCumber Terrace (Wilmington, NC) Board of Directors.
After retiring to New Hanover County in 1995, Rajah enjoyed his favorite hobbies full-time: fishing, metal detecting, and card playing. Up until the last year of his life, he remained quite a competitor at the card table! He has been a member of The Little Chapel on the Boardwalk Presbyterian from 1995-present.
A Graveside service is scheduled for Friday, September 9, 2022 at 1 p.m. at Lafayette Memorial Park in Fayetteville, NC. It will be open to the public. In the next month, there will be a memorial service at The Little Chapel on the Boardwalk in Wrightsville Beach, NC, on Friday, September 23, 2022 at 1pm.
In lieu of Flowers, please make donations to Lower Cape Fear Life Care of Wilmington, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28480 or to the Little Chapel on the Boardwalk, 2 W. Fayetteville St., Wrightsville Beach, N.C. 28480
Funeral arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St. Fayetteville, N.C. 28301
Online condolences may be made at www.jerniganwarren.com
