Mr. Saleem H. Saboor, Sr.

Saleem Hassan Saboor Sr. (born George Jones) was a caring husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He passed away March 20, 2024, at the age of 76 after a courageous battle with cardiovascular disease.

He was born on October 30, 1947, to Ira and Bertha M. Jones in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. As a young boy he attended Osage Avenue Christian Church where he was baptized, served as an altar boy and was in the choir. After graduating from high school, he attended Oklahoma University where he studied Culinary Arts. In his last year of studies, he was drafted into the Army. In the army he utilized his skill set as a cook and kitchen supervisor. He served two years in the Vietnam War, including in the mountainous battlefield of Hamburger Hill. After returning home, he relocated to Los Angeles, California. There he completed his culinary degree at Los Angeles Trade Technical College.

During a visit to the VA Medical Center in Long Beach, California, Saleem met Wanda, a worker there. Two years later, in 1979, they married on his birthday. Together they raised 3 children – Felicia, Torrance and Saleem Jr. In 1981 they decided to relocate to Kansas City, MO Shortly, thereafter a fourth child, Ashanti, was born.

He was passionate about cooking and got great pleasure seeing people eating and enjoying his food. Early on he worked as a chef at restaurants, Plaza Three and Bennigans, but he had a deep desire to own a business. This led him to start Catering Unlimited in 1988. With his wife as his business partner, he built a name for himself and became known as one of the premier black owned caterers in the KC metro area. During the span of his career he received many accolades including recognition by the Real Winners in Small Business from the Missouri Lottery Commission. He also had opportunities to feed proponent figures throughout the community and was selected to cater the grand opening gala of the Jazz Museum and Gem Theater in the 18th & Vine Jazz distract.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Wanda Saboor, daughters Felicia Allen, Ashanti Stanford (Richard), son Saleem Jr., sisters Dorothy White (Ralph), Linda Kay Jones-Williams (Freddy) brother Musquit Saboor, brother in laws: Robert, Gregory, James Taylor, and Danny Ray Ruffin, sister in-laws: Sandra Jones, Rhonda M. Williams, Celestine Williams, and LaDina Kinney.  Grandsons Feldell Allen, Rashad Allen, LaDarrian Ranson, Saleem Saboor III, Richard Jr., Riley, and, Caleb Stanford, an adopted grandson Eulan Lindsay (EJ).  Grand-daughters Cathryn and Caliese Saboor, Cydni and Aria Stanford, great granddaughters: Amyiah and Nola Allen. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and special army buddies, classmates, neighbors, and friends.

I want to honor my brave husband as a Vietnam Veteran who fought for this country and sacrificed his life and health from exposure to agent orange, developing diabetes, hearing loss due to the shell shock, heart disease, and pulmonary problems.  There is a saying “Land of the Free Because of the Brave”!

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, April 12, 2024, 11am at Watkins Heritage Chapel, visitation 10 am. Interment Leavenworth National Cemetery, Leavenworth, KS. Service conducted by Watkins Hertiage Chapel. Condolences may be shared on our website.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mr. Saleem H. Saboor, Sr., please visit our floral store.