Mr. Ronald Frank Karabian

Beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Ronald Frank Karabian passed away on Friday, January 24, 2014. He was born on October 31, 1935, the first of four children of Frank "Tex" and Lillie Karabian. Ron was married to Carol Mosesian Karabian for nearly 51 years.

Ron was a graduate of Roosevelt High School where he was the first athlete to play both varsity football and baseball his freshman year. He was an avid and life long supporter of all things Fresno State.

Ron's name was widely recognized in the business communities of the Valley and central coast. He became a New York Life agent in 1964, and would have celebrated 50 years as an active agent in February. His accomplishments in the business were many and far too numerous to list here. He was a Life and Qualifying Member of the Million Dollar Round Table for nearly 50 years, a member of that group's Knights Foundation, its Court of the Table, and Top of the Table. He received the National Sales Achievement Award for forty years, was a member and past president of the Fresno Life Underwriters, and was a first and second vice president of New York Life's Pacific Region, and a lifetime Chairman's Council Agent.

Ron was committed to his community, church, and family. This commitment began early. After returning from a year at Biola Bible College, Ron started coaching youth baseball and football. Before his sons Jim and Tim were old enough to play, Ron started coaching with his daughter Missy as the bat girl.

He was active in the leadership of First Armenian Presbyterian Church his entire life. As a youth, he was president of the Christian Endeavor group. As an adult, he served as an elder; chaired the finance committees for all three stages of construction for the church facility; and was on the the current pastoral nominating committee. He read his Bible everyday on a schedule that ensured he read the entire Bible every year.

Ron was a member of many community organizations, including the Las Palmas Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, the Shriners, the Knights of Vartan, the Triple X Fraternity-Selma Chapter, was an Honorary Chairman of the Diabetic Youth Foundation, the first person to serve three consecutive terms as President of the Board of Directors of the California Armenian Home, and a fundraiser for the Autism Society and the Big Brothers & Big Sisters. Ron worked for the community with gusto, he raised over $12,000,000 for these organizations.

Ron dearly loved his family and showed it openly in all he did. He is survived by his loving wife Carol; daughter, Sara "Missy" Statler and her husband Ron; sons, Jimmy Karabian and his wife Annie, and Tim Karabian and his wife Amanda; grandchildren, Kara, Mitchel, Cameron, Mason, Logan, and Cooper; sister, Elaine and her husband Phil Garo; brothers, Robert "Butch" Karabian and his wife Barbara, and Russell Karabian and his wife Georgette; brother-in-law, JoJo Mosesian and his wife Joyce; and his many nephews, nieces, and cousins.

Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Thursday, January 30, 2014, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

A Memorial Service will be held at First Armenian Presbyterian Church on Friday, January 31, 2014, at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Surfers Healing (a foundation for autism) P.O. Box 1267, San Juan Capistrano, Ca., 92693; or the California Armenian Home, 6720 E. Kings Canyon Rd., Fresno, Ca., 93727; or First Armenian Presbyterian Church, 430 S. First St., Fresno, Ca., 93702.