Obituaries
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, April 30, 2007
Jack Rachlin, co-founder, Rachlin Furniture
Hilton Head Island, S.C. — Jack Rachlin, co-founder with twin brother Theodore of casual dining manufacturer Rachlin Furniture, has died following a short illness. He was 83.
A pilot in the Army Air Corps, Rachlin and his brother started the business after World War II in the basement of his brother's home. It grew into an international business with facilities in Pennsylvania, South Carolina and California.
In the early '60s, Rachlin became a pioneer in furniture importing, establishing sources in Italy, the former Yugoslavia, Romania, Poland, Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines and Mexico. Jack Rachlin retired in 1993. His children followed him into the business.
Rachlin is survived a son, two daughters, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Esther Royer Culp, wife of Culp co-founder
High Point — Esther Royer Culp, wife of the late co-founder of fabric and ticking supplier Culp Inc., Robert George Culp Jr., and mother of current Culp CEO Rob Culp III, has died. She was 88.
Her husband founded the business in 1972, along with Rob Culp III and Howard Dunn. Esther Culp was involved in many community activities and was named High Point Citizen of the Year in 1989.
She is survived by three children, nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 918 N. Main St., High Point, N.C. 27262; or to High Point Regional Health System Development, P.O. Box HP-5, High Point, N.C. 27261; or River Landing, 1575 John Knox Drive, Colfax, N.C. 27235.
Robert S. Hilliard, Florida sales rep
Coconut Grove, Fla. — Longtime Florida furniture sales representative Robert S. Hilliard has died from pancreatic cancer. He was 70.
Hilliard entered the industry around 1959. While he represented many companies, his major lines were Sunset Lamps and Carter Chair.
His daughter, Kathy Stahl, and his nephew, Ken Blackwelder, also are in the industry. Other survivors include two daughters and six grandchildren.
A memorial service is set for 4 p.m. on April 14 at St. Stephens Episcopal Parish, 2750 McFarlane Road in Coconut Grove. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, 379 Homewood Road, Los Angeles, Calif. 90049.
Thomas G. Wing, co-founder, Bacon & Wing
Sarasota, Fla. — Thomas G. Wing, co-founder of high-end accent furniture and fabric producer Bacon & Wing, has died. He was 72.
Wing and his life partner, Robert Bacon, began in business together as interior designers and antique dealers in Toledo, Ohio. They later operated a store in Sarasota. In 1996, they opened a wholesale business, operating showrooms at several domestic and European furnishings markets, including High Point.
Wing is survived by Bacon, two sisters, a brother and several nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to Tidewell Hospice and Palliative Care in Sarasota.
Ira Ostrow, founder of Pem Kay
New York — Ira Ostrow, founder of upholstery manufacturer Pem Kay, has died. He was 70.
He founded the company in 1974 and built it into a powerhouse in the promotional upholstered furniture segment. Pem Kay pioneered the use of cotton print fabrics that were engineered to the frames, a technique previously found only at the high end. Ostrow had a keen eye for the dynamics of the printed fabric market in at promotional price points, especially geared to department stores.
He sold the company to Cochrane Furniture in the early 1990s and retired in '95.
He is survived by his wife; two sons, including Jon, who is merchandise director of P/Kaufmann's Bloomcraft Home Furniture division; two daughters, a brother and eight grandchildren.
