Obituaries
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, March 19, 2007
Neil Francis Harden, Harden Furniture
McConnellsville, N.Y. — Neil Francis Harden, who retired in 1988 as vice president and secretary of manufacturer Harden Furniture, has died after a long illness. He was 77.
Harden served stateside in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1950 to 1952. He then started working at Harden Furniture, which was co-founded by his great grandfather, Charles S. Harden Sr., in 1844.
Harden rose through the ranks at the company, ultimately taking charge of human resources, payroll and the trucking fleet. He also served on the board of directors.
He was preceded in death by a son. He is survived by his wife, a daughter and son-in-law, and two granddaughters. His nephew, Greg Harden, is president and CEO of Harden Furniture.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Neil F. Harden BOCES Scholarship Award, in care of Camden Central School, Cindy Glover, Treasurer, 51 Third Street, Camden, N.Y. 13316.
Marilynn Meyer Greeson, Eurway Furniture
Dallas — Marilynn Meyer Greeson, co-founder of retailer Eurway Innovative Furniture, now Eurway Modern Home and Office, has died. She was 86.
Greeson founded Eurway in Dallas with sons Gary and Greg Greeson in 1980 and remained active as chairwoman and controller until her retirement in 2003.
Beyond her work in retail, she had varied interests and accomplishments. She published a biographical novel about her great-grandfather, C.F.G. Meyer, the German immigrant who founded Meyer Bros. Drug. In her late 70s she earned a master's degree from the University of Texas.
Survivors include sons Greg Greeson, who owns the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams stores in Austin with his wife, Joni; Gary Greeson, president of the three-store Eurway; and Gordon Greeson; daughter Gigi Correll, chief development officer for Eurway; and nine grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of one's choice.
Robert C. Feuerhaken, led Leath, Wickes
Elgin, Ill. — Robert C. Feuerhaken, former president of the Leath Furniture store chain and retired chairman and CEO of retailer Wickes Furniture, has died. He was 82.
Feuerhaken served as an Army Air Corps flight instructor during World War II. He joined Leath, which was then owned by Wickes, in 1945 as a salesman and worked his way up in the organization.
After Leath was sold in 1988, Feuerhaken joined Wickes and eventually retired from that company. He led major expansions at each of the retailers.
He also was a 50-year member of the Elks and played the drums with the band the Sweetones.
Surviving are his wife; three children, including Keith Feuerhaken, vice president of sales and marketing for Sklar Peppler and a former executive with Flexsteel and Alan White; six grandchildren and twin great-grandsons.
In lieu of flowers, memorials donations may be made to Epworth United Methodist Church or Guardian Angels Animal Rescue, both in Elgin, Ill.
Solomon Woolfson, Kayfoam Woolfson
Dublin, Ireland — Solomon "Solly" Woolfson, chairman of bedding producer Kayfoam Woolfson, died at his home here last month. He was 74.
Woolfson took a nap and did not wake up, company officials said.
He joined the family business, then called W.L. Woolfson and Sons, in 1952. The company, which had been an importer and distributor of textiles, diversified and began making mattresses.
Renamed Kayfoam Woolfson, the company became Ireland's first foam bedding producer in 1972 and brought a number of innovations to the market. In 1982 the company became the King Koil licensee for the United Kingdom and Ireland, a relationship that continues.
Woolfson and his son, David, director, built the company's Kaymed and Numuru brands. The company distributes its products in 15 countries.
David Woolfson and John Sexton, chief financial officer, have assumed the duties formerly held by Solomon Woolfson.
Woolfson is remembered as a creative leader. Kayfoam Woolfson won awards for its forward thinking and success, including the FIRA Innovation Award in 2005 and the prestigious Irish Exporter of the Year Award in 2006.
Survivors include his wife, Adele, five children and 10 grandchildren.
