Richard Elias, 84, Passes

-- Home Textiles Today, 8/17/2009 12:00:00 AM

St. Louis, Mo. —

Richard Elias, a 60-year veteran of the home textiles industry, passed away Aug. 2 after a long illness. He was 84.

Although he officially retired several in 1996 from the St. Louis sales office of Louisville Bedding, where is son Steve is now ceo, he continued to come in and help out until that division closed in 2003.

He is survived by his wife, Peggy Elias (nee Auchly) and their children: Maria Elias, Richard and Georgie Elias, Steve and Pam Elias, and Laura and Jim Schultz as well as brother James and sister-in-law Marlene Elias, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation or St. Louis University High School.