Charles Fluehr, 82, owner of Phila. store

Charles F. Fluehr, 82, of Cheltenham, a veteran and a former owner of his family's furniture store, died Tuesday, April 15, of leukemia at Einstein Medical Center Elkins Park.

Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Fluehr and his sister, Claire, were the third generation in their family to manage 5 Floor Fluehr Furniture Store at Front and Emerald Streets since it opened in 1888.

Mr. Fluehr graduated from St. Joseph's Preparatory School in 1949, then earned a degree in commerce and business from the University of Notre Dame in 1953.

He enlisted in the Navy that year and served for 14 years. He was discharged as a Supply Corps lieutenant with the Seventh Fleet.

Mr. Fluehr married Anna Feeley in 1957.

"He was a strong man. He held to certain principles his parents instilled in him, and he instilled them in us to make us better people," said his eldest son, Chuck.

Though Mr. Fluehr officially retired from the furniture store in 1996 and passed on the ownership to his sons, he still came in to work every day until he was admitted to the hospital.

"He loved doing the books, but he didn't believe in computers and did everything by hand," Chuck Fluehr said. "You should see his ledgers."

Mr. Fluehr was also a deep-sea fisherman and a Boy Scout troop leader. In his free time, he worked on his HO-scale model train that was designed to resemble Pennsylvania railroads.

In addition to his wife and son, he is survived by sons John and Robert and two grandchildren.

A viewing will be held at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 23, at St. William Roman Catholic Church, 6200 Rising Sun Ave., with a Funeral Mass at 10:30. Burial with military honors will follow in Washington Crossing National Cemetery.

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