The man who seemed to know almost everyone in Wichita has died

Though it’s hard to believe there’s anyone in Wichita who knows everyone, indications are Bob Razook came close.

“You don’t live somewhere 73 years and not know darn near everybody, especially if you’re Lebanese,” said Steve Cohlmia, Razook’s cousin.

That and, due to Razook’s personality, “He never met a stranger.”

Razook, who owned Razook’s Furniture — the store his father, Curly, started 70 years ago — died of small cell cancer on Jan. 5. His funeral is at 1 p.m. Thursday at St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral.

“You can always tell the people who have known him forever because they call him Bobby,” said his wife, Sharon Razook.

Bob Razook had been a confirmed bachelor when he relented and married her at age 37.

“He loved his single life in Wichita playing golf and going to his mom’s for dinner every night,” Sharon Razook said.

Embedded in his proposal to her were the words “as long as I can play golf whenever I want, we’re going to be OK.”

The two met at a Lebanese convention in Oklahoma. The conventions are where Lebanese people can meet and potentially marry other Lebanese people.

Bob Razook was there merely to socialize, and Sharon Razook was there because her grandmother — fearing she might become an old maid — forced her to go.

While neither was looking for a spouse, they hit it off and had a late night at Denny’s.

When Sharon Razook told her grandmother, “She clutched her heart and said, ‘Bobby Razook? He’s a prince.’ ”

As Sharon Razook was getting to know her future husband, she said, “I always felt like I was in a parade. He was always constantly waving to people and hugging people.”

She said others regularly said her husband was their best friend or like a brother to them.

“I’ve just never met anybody who knows more people or is liked by more people.”

Bob Razook had gone to law school in Oklahoma for a year, but his father needed him back at the family’s store. Sharon Razook said it where he was meant to be.

Steve McKinney said his longtime buddy used to say how much he loved Wichita, “But I’d sure like to get out of here for two months every winter.”

Even in the weeks before his death, Razook was talking about a February trip to California. His wife said he also wanted to try a new treatment that he thought might be a game-changer for his health.

“Giving up was not in his DNA,” a friend texted the day after he died, noting Razook’s incredible attitude.

“He’s probably up in Heaven right now looking for lost golf balls.”

Those who knew him said Razook’s illness was incredibly cruel given how much attention he paid to his health, including working out seven days a week and eating right for decades.

Cohlmia said Razook was eating organic foods before others could even spell the word.

“Sometimes you don’t know when the man is going to call you.”

Father figure

In addition to being likable, McKinney said Razook was caring.

“He helped so damn many people over the years with different things.”

At the store, if a delivery person couldn’t get customers their furniture at the times they preferred, Razook would make the deliveries himself.

Customers and staff were like family to Razook, his wife said.

Store manager Chad Aikin, who started in delivery almost 30 years ago, said, “I didn’t have a solid father figure in my life, and he kind of helped fill that void.”

He has managed the store throughout Razook’s illness and will continue to.

“Right now, we’re just going to continue with his legacy,” Sharon Razook said.

Aikin said if he ever gets frustrated over a situation, “I stop and think, what would Bob do? And that helps me professionally take care of the issue.”

Razook left for several years to be director of furniture for Rent-A-Center. When the company left Wichita and wanted him to come with it, there was no question that Razook would stay.

“Wichita was ingrained in him,” Sharon Razook said.

In addition to being optimistic and caring, Cohlmia said Razook was opinionated, too, and always did his homework.

“He could give you a different twist on things. He was just an individual thinker. He did not conform.”

Mostly, though, McKinney said his friend “was so much fun to be around.”

“He was just one of those guys that everybody kind of instantly likes and is comfortable around.”

Sharon Razook, who had two daughters and three grandchildren with her husband, said that positivity and those memories likely will help her going forward.

“I’m blessed to have been part of that for so long.”