Obituaries
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, September 21, 2009
Henry Dyer Rutledge, longtime Weir's exec
DALLAS — Henry Dyer Rutledge, who worked in the industry for decades and had an instrumental role in the growth of retailer Weir's Furniture here, died Sept. 10. He was 95.
Rutledge began his career in 1928 as a delivery boy with the former Titche-Goettinger department store in Dallas and joined the former Sanger Harris department store in 1947. In 1975, he became general manager of Weir's and helped it grow from a small store operation to a multi-location major in the Dallas market.
He retired from Weir's in 1989 but remained active in the industry as a consultant to furniture manufacturers and retailers into his 80s.
James Bryant, a longtime friend and founding dean of Criswell College, told the Dallas Morning News that Rutledge had “incredible people skills” and was sought out for his expertise on furniture.
Rutledge is survived by his wife, two daughters, a son, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 1707 San Jacinto, Dallas, Texas 75201.
Jack Gordon, Gordon's Furniture
PITTSBURGH — Jack Gordon, a prominent businessman who founded the Gordon's Furniture chain of stores, died Sept. 12 at the age of 97.
Gordon got his start in the furniture business when he moved to Pittsburgh in 1940 and began working at Kaufmann's Department Store and Gimbel's as a buyer and merchandise manager.
He opened the first Gordon's Fine Furniture store in Penn Hills, Pa., in 1952. He later expanded his company to Monroeville in 1960 and Upper St. Clair in 1965. Gordon retired in 1986.
Gordon was actively involved with several organizations, particularly the Southern Poverty Law Center, based in Montgomery, Ala., and the Holocaust Center of Greater Pittsburgh. He was chairman of the Holocaust Commission for several years and started an oral history project that included interviews with Holocaust survivors and U.S. servicemen.
His survivors include a daughter, son, five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions can be made to the Sara & Jack Gordon Endowment Fund at The Holocaust Center of Greater Pittsburgh, c/o The United Jewish Federation, 234 McKee Place, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15213.
Robert Blum, former Craftex Mills president
JUPITER, Fla. — Robert B. Blum, the former president of textiles manufacturer Craftex Mills of Pa., has died. He was 93.
Blum's father founded Craftex Mills in the early 1900s. After serving in World War II, the younger Blum returned as president of the mill, known for its jacquard fabric. He remained president until his retirement in 1984. He then sold the business to his son, Robert Jr., who owned it until it was sold earlier this year.
Blum was active on the boards of several organizations and schools while living in the Philadelphia area and later in Jupiter.
He is survived by his wife, three children, five grandchildren, one great-grandchild and a sister. He was preceded in death by another son in 2005. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peters School in Philadelphia or St. Andrews School in Middletown, Del.
George Colombo, veteran retail salesman
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. — George A. Colombo, a longtime retail salesman in the Indianapolis area, had died. He was 50.
He was most recently at Noblesville-based Godby Home Furnishings and previously worked for years with Indianapolis-based Top 100 store Kittle's. He was a sergeant in the Marine Corps and volunteered for many charitable organizations.
Survivors include his parents, two brothers, one sister, three nieces and two nephews.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the donor's favorite charity.
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