Retired Iowa furniture retailer Thomas B. Liddell dies at 88

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, January 7, 2013

Thomas B. Liddell

FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Thomas B. Liddell, a furniture retailer in Iowa for more than 40 years, has died at age 88.

Liddell served in World War II as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division. After the war, he attended chiropractic school and practiced in Sparks, Nev.

He later returned to Iowa to open a furniture store with his brother Frank in Des Moines. The store, Liddell Brothers Furniture, eventually expanded to Urbandale, Iowa, under the name Liddell Plaza Furniture.

Liddell was a leader in advertising and promotions and was among the first retailers to promote the "Three Room Groups" concept, a predecessor to whole room selling, said son Tom Liddell, an executive with Planned Furniture Promotions.

The elder Liddell retired to Fort Myers, Fla., and had recently moved to Spring Hill, Tenn., to be near family. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Norma; five daughters; two sons; a brother, a sister and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8 at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home, 3009 Columbia Ave., Franklin, Tenn. 37064. Interment will be at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines at a later date.