Walter Murta Jr., 83, former furniture store owner

Walter Murta Jr., 83, co-owner of furniture stores in Southwest Philadelphia and Upper Darby, died Wednesday, July 25, of pneumonia at Little Flower Manor, a nursing home in Darby Borough, where he had lived for 31/2 years. He was a 45-year resident of Lansdowne.

Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Murta graduated from the former Collingdale High School in 1947 and studied business at what is now Drexel University, his son, Stephen, said.

While in high school, Mr. Murta began working part-time for his father, Walter Sr., at McGinity & Murta's Furniture at 54th Street and Chester Avenue.

His father became the sole owner in the 1950s and changed the name to Murta's Furniture. When his father died in the early 1970s, Walter Murta Jr. and his brother Donald became co-owners.

They expanded to a second location on West Chester Pike near City Avenue and, in the best years, employed a total of 30 workers, Stephen Murta said.

After the brothers sold the business in the 1980s, Mr. Murta worked as a representative of furniture manufacturers to stores in the region before retiring in the 2000s.

He was a member of Edgmont Country Club in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Besides his son, Mr. Murta is survived by his wife, Anne; daughters Suzanne Kent and Kathleen Johnson; a brother; and eight grandchildren.

A visitation was set from 9 a.m. Saturday, July 28, at St. Eugene Roman Catholic Church, 200 S. Oak Ave., Primos, with a Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. Burial is to be in Arlington Cemetery, Drexel Hill.