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Wanted To Buy Wanted To Buy

Joseph Alexander Hardy III, founder of 84 Lumber, Eighty Four, Pa., passed away on Jan. 7—his 100th birthday.

After serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a radioman during World War II, Joe worked in sales at his father’s jewelry store while earning a degree from the University of Pittsburgh. In 1956, with Ed Ryan, Jack Kunkle, and brothers Norman and Bob Hardy, Joe launched Green Hills Lumber in a vacant basement. The business eventually became 84 Lumber—named after the city where it was headquartered—and, under Joe’s leadership, would become the largest privately owned building materials supplier in the world, with more than 260 stores in 30 states.

He passed the reins of president of 84 Lumber to his daughter, Maggie, in 1992.

Charles “Huck” DeVenzio, 75, retired manager of marketing communications for Lonza Wood Protection, died of Parkinson’s disease on Dec. 6.

A graduate of both Cornell and the University of Pittsburgh, he worked as marketing manager for Wolmanized Wood with Lonza (now Arxada) and predecessor companies Hickson and Arch from 1989 until 2013.

An adventurer with an irrepressible sense of humor, Huck explored the world, raced an America’s Cup yacht, set an international aviation speed record, performed on stage with Italian opera singers, yodeled with a Swiss folk group, entered the ring with a professional wrestler, edited six books, and produced a half-hour TV show.

Jerry Combs, 75, senior salesman for Lincoln Lumber, Conroe, Tx., passed away Christmas Day.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving two tours of duty in Vietnam. After graduating and playing football for Louisiana State University, Jerry began his 40+ year career in the lumber industry.

His wife, Rachel, is a buyer with Builders FirstSource.

Robert D. “Bob” Rorabaugh, 70, former co-owner of Rorabaugh Lumber Co., Burnside, Pa., died Dec. 28.

Bob graduated from Penn State University with a degree in forest science in 1972, then rejoined the family business. Following his father’s retirement, Bob and his two brothers, Tucker and Roger, took over operation and management of the sawmill/ dry kiln company, with Bob in charge of timber procurement, sales and marketing.

At the end of last year, he and his brothers sold the company to JB Mill & Fabricating, New Castle, Pa., and semi-retired.

He served on the Pennsylvania Forest Products Association board from 2001 to 2009, as secretary/treasurer (2003-04), vice chair (200406), and chair (2006-07); secretary of the Western Gateway Chapter of the Society of American Foresters; and director of the National Hardwood Lumber Association.

Fred A. Burke Sr., 96, who retired from Burke Brothers Hardware, Raleigh, N.C., died Jan. 5.

He joined in the U.S. Army in 1945 during the final months of World War II, stationed in Germany. He spent his career with the family hardware store and Burke Lumber Co.

Samuel Vernon Guthrie, owner of Guthrie Lumber Co., Cecil, Ga., died Jan. 3, weeks shy of his 103rd birthday.

Vernon served as a U.S. Army machine gunner during World War II, participating in the D-Day Invasion and the Battle of The Bulge. He ran a number of several successful companies, including a trucking business, timber cruiser, and wood yard. He owned and operated the sawmill for the last 30 years, regularly reporting to the office until 2021.

Thomas Lee Ackerman, Sr., 84, retired owner of Ackerman True Value, Brandenburg, Ky., died Dec. 29.

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