Obituaries
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, March 9, 2009
Kenneth R. Owen, Kenro Furniture owner
HIGH POINT — Kenneth R. “Ken” Owen, owner and president of Kenro Furniture, had died of cancer. He was 80.
Owen was employed by Case-Casard Furniture for about 40 years, working as a sales representative in North Carolina for 35 years and as executive vice president the last five, said his son, Kevin Owen. In 1988, father and son founded the sales rep group KR Owen Associates, whose major line is Sauder.
Kevin Owen said his father retired from the rep group in 1993 and started Kenro Furniture. He traveled to furniture markets and bought showroom samples. Ken Owen was still active with the company at the time of his death.
Owen was a past president of the High Point Furniture Club. He was also an Army veteran who served during the Korean War.
Kevin Owen is still a sales rep and his brother, Ken, owns a line of rental furniture stores in the Atlanta area. In addition to his sons, Ken Owen is survived by his wife, one daughter, two stepchildren, three sisters and several grandchildren and step-grandchildren.
Memorials made be made to Hospice of the Piedmont, 1801 Westchester Dr., High Point, N.C. 27262, or to Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 1225 Chestnut Dr., High Point, N.C. 27262.
Ernest 'Chuck' Hahn, industry sales rep
MIAMI — Ernest “Chuck” Hahn, a retired sales representative whose industry career spanned more than 40 years, has died. He was 97.
He started in the home furnishings industry in 1929 as an employee of Louisville Lamp Co. and in 1931 went on the road as a multi-line rep. Except for one year as production manager at Louisville Lamp and four years of Navy service in the South Pacific during World War II, he remained a rep until his retirement in 1976.
Hahn was a supporter of the Florida Furniture Travelers Assn. and the National Wholesale Home Furnishings Salesmen's Assn., which today are the Florida Home Furnishings Representatives Assn. and the International Home Furnishings Representatives Assn., respectively. He held several posts in the Florida and national organizations and was elected president of the FFT in 1965.
Survivors include his son, Jack Hahn, a rep for furniture industry suppliers.
Memorial donations may be made to the South Florida Youth Symphony, 12645 SW 114th Ave., Miami, Fla. 33176.
Paul N. Leesemann, buyer and retailer
CINCINNATI, Ohio — Paul N. Leesemann, former buyer, executive and store owner, has died of complications from pneumonia. He was 68.
Leesemann started his career in the home furnishings industry in the 1950s at retail store Schloemer Furniture in Cincinnati. He moved to Iowa to become a sales rep with Rowe Furniture for about a year before returning to Cincinnati to join McAlpin's. Leesemann worked as a buyer for McAlpin's, now known as Dillard's, for most of the 1970s.
Leesemann moved to retailer Elder Beerman in the 1980s, where he was vice president and merchandise manager responsible for furniture, electronics and carpet. He went on to open his own store, Cincinnati Furniture, in 1997. Leesemann retired early last year, and the store has since closed.
Leesemann was preceded in death by one son. He is survived by his former wife, four daughters, 15 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Eugene Graham White Jr., Stanley Furniture
BASSETT, Va. — Eugene Graham White Jr., a former executive at Stanley Furniture, died here March 1. He was 82.
White was vice president and controller at Stanley for 16 years. He retired as director of human resources for Prillaman Chemical Co.
Survivors include his son, Graham White III, who is credit manager at Stanley.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Missions and Ministry Fund at Pocahontas Baptist Church, P.O. Box 503, Bassett, Va., 24055; or the Bassett Historical Center, 3964 Fairystone Park Highway, Bassett, Va., 24055.
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