K.A. Ammar Jr.

April 13, 1933 - March 14, 2020

K.A. Ammar Jr., age 86 of Bluefield, WV passed away peacefully on March 14, 2020 following an extended illness. ​He was born on April 13, 1933 in Williamson, WV to the late K.A. Ammar Sr. and Lydia Ammar. From an early age, he was known to family and friends and later in life to colleagues as “Junior” until his passing. ​He attended schools in Williamson, WV until his father moved the family business headquarters to Bluefield, WV. He finished school in Bluefield and graduated from Bluefield High School in 1951 where he played football and basketball. ​Upon graduation, he attended Marshall College in Huntington, WV, graduating in 1956. While a student there, he was one of the leaders of a group that attended and successfully petitioned the West Virginia legislature to have Marshall changed from a College to University status, which was finalized in 1961.​ While at Marshall, he was a two year president of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, as well as a member of the Robe and Omicron Delta Kappa Honorary Clubs. ​During and after college, he served in the U.S. Army and reserves attaining the rank of Captain. ​Upon completion of his military service, he joined the family business (Ammar’s Inc.) in 1957 where his father and uncles began teaching him to eventually assume charge of the company. During this time, he married his college sweetheart Mary Jane Yinger (of Waldron, Michigan) in 1959. Under his leadership, the company began the gradual conversion of the smaller downtown Ammar’s Brothers Department Stores to the more spacious Magic Mart stores in 1967, with the last downtown store closing in 1974. He became President and C.E.O of Ammar’s, Inc. in 1975 and Chairman in 2001. The company operated the Ammar Brother’s/Magic Mart stores in VA, WV, KY, NC and TN for 98 years but unfortunately closed in 2018 after serving their respective communities for almost a century. He served on the first Board of Directors of the Bluefield Regional Hospital, which later became the Bluefield Regional Medical Center, and was also a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Bluefield, WV where he had served as both Deacon and Elder. He was a past president of the Bluefield Chamber of Commerce and in 1979 made contact with and engaged (the yet unannounced Presidential candidate) Ronald Reagan to address over 1000 people at the Chamber’s annual dinner. He served on the Boards of Directors of Flat Top and First Community Banks for 30 years (1975- 2004) and was one of the original directors in the development of Three Springs Farms Subdivision in Bluefield, WV. He served on the Great Lakes to Florida Highway Association and was the founder and President of the Bluefield to Huntington Highway Association. He was also the first President of the King Coal Highway Authority. K.A. was the Founder and President of the I-73/74 Corridor Association, now GLF-I-73/74 Corridor Association. This association spearheaded the Congressional approval of the I-73/74 route as a priority highway through Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. In 1992, with his brother Richard, he was awarded the Hamilton Award from the Bluefield Chamber of Commerce, and in 2004 the American Legion Award, also with his brother Richard. He was honored by the West Virginia Legislature in the naming of the Bluefield Interchange the K.A. Ammar Jr. Interchange. The Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce honored K.A. and Nelson Walker for their efforts to bring I-73/74 to reality. K.A. was also honored by the City of Bluefield, WV Board of Directors in the year 2000, with Eddie Steele (deceased) and Nelson Walker (deceased). In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother Fayaz, and sisters Kalia Radwan, Adela Cecil and Rosella Michael. Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 60 years, Mary Jane Yinger Ammar, three children, Susan Ammar Crewey and husband Dwayne of Moneta, VA, K.A. Ammar III (Trey) and wife Elizabeth Elizabeth of Bluefield, VA, and Sara Ammar Whitt and husband Scott of Bluefield, VA., brother, Richard Ammar, Bluefield, WV., granddaughter Jennifer Buzzo Gillespie and husband Jason, grandson Ethan Whitt, step-grandsons Michael Whitt and Matthew Whitt, great granddaughter Madalyn Gillespie and step-great granddaughter Addilene Whitt. The family would also like to express their heartfelt thanks to his caregivers Mike Barnes, Donna Flanner and Linda Howard. There will be a private family service with no public viewing or visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Junior’s honor to your favorite charity. Those wishing to share memories or condolence messages with the family may do so by visiting www.MercerFuneralHome.com Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family of Mr. K.A. Ammar Jr. ​