Walla Walla, Wash.—Longtime carpet and home furnishings retailer, Kurt Reithmayr, owner of Kurt’s Decorative Service, passed away here on Dec. 12. He was 92 years old.

Having come to America from Austria in 1930 at age 17, Reithmayr and his family settled in Brooklyn, N.Y. He learned English by attending night school, and going to movies. Eventually, his whole family worked for a wealthy man at his estate on Long Island, where Kurt was the chauffeur. The man gave Reithmayr his first job selling shoes at a large department store in Brooklyn. He was then transferred west to the C.C. Anderson store in Boise, Idaho, where he worked in the curtain and drapery department.

In 1948 Reithmayr started out on his own and came to Walla Walla, and opened a curtain and drapery shop in the Davis Kaser furniture store. As business prospered in the 1950s, he moved the Walla Walla store to a larger building. A complete workroom was set up to make custom draperies, curtains, top treatments, roman shades and bedspreads, as well as an upholstery shop. This workroom services two other stores that were opened in Pasco, Wash., and Boise, Idaho.

During this time, Reithmayr was ap-proached by Beryl Davis, who was the Gulistan distributor for the Northwest. It was Beryl who talked Reithmayr into getting into the carpet business. Eventually, Kurt’s Decorative Service became a complete window and floor covering store including vinyl, tile and hardwood. “The name of Kurt’s Decorative Service be-came a household name for many years in southeastern Washington,” said his son, Ken. Reithmayr, along with his wife Alice whom he had married in 1969, remained active in the business, until he sold the operation in Walla Walla in 2001 and finally retired at age 88.

“Dad enjoyed enjoyed his many customers over the years and always gave them his very best,” said Ken Reithmayr. “He was very devoted to all his children, and always did what he could to make them successful.” Reithmayr was a member of the Christian Church, a lifetime member of the Walla Walla Elks Lodge #287 and the Walla Walla Country Club.

Reithmayr is survived by his wife, Alice; four daughters, Jean and her husband Reed Nate of Boise, Idaho, Mary Reithmayr of Boise, Nan Reithmayr-Parent and husband Steve of Seattle, and Vickie and husband Paul Erickson of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; three sons, Kurt and his wife Ellen of Thousand Oaks, Calif., Ken and his wife Cleo of Kennewick, Wash., and Rick Nebeker of Walla Walla, Wash.; 13 grandchildren, Matt, Brad, Michelle, Ryan, Darrol, Wayne, Karen, Sarah, Jeff, Steve, Brian, Kristen and Seth; eight great-grandchildren, Ashley, Kurt, Conner, Camden, Skyler, Spencer, Sam and Emily, and two nieces, Gerti of Vienna, Austria, and Carolyn of New York.

He was preceded in death by two sisters.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Childrens Hospital, Tall Relks, Walla Walla Community Hospice or Charity of Choice through the Herring Grose-close Funeral Home.