Edward W. Weintraut, 86, watch repairman for six decades

"It's sort of in the blood," Edward W. Weintraut said in a 2013 Inquirer interview, explaining why he had been repairing watches at his Center City shop since 1957. "I'm needed."

As he sat down at his bench, staff writer Amy S. Rosenberg wrote, "you see how time melts away. . . .

"The fingers - muscular and flexible, each capable of winding and twisting, holding and steadying - show no trace of a shake.

"The focus sets in, the lips start to pucker in and out, stilling any distraction."

He was a few days short of turning 85.

On Monday, Feb. 16, Mr. Weintraut, 86, of Cherry Hill, who retired in 2014 as owner and operator of Ed Weintraut Jeweler at 735 Walnut St., died at the Fountains at Cedar Parke, a retirement community in Atco, after suffering complications from a fall.

Bob Wolf said his Walnut Street store, Wolf Jewelers, had been "Eddie's neighbor for the last 54 years." The Weintraut store is now managed by son Robert.

Wolf noted that Mr. Weintraut "was an anchor" in the Jewelers' Row neighborhood.

"He was a straight shooter, a man you could trust."

Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Weintraut grew up in West Philadelphia and dropped out of Edward W. Bok Technical High School in South Philadelphia "because he needed work; the family was very poor," son Steven said.

He taught himself watchmaking and repair. And even when he served stateside in the 82d Army Airborne Division from 1951 to 1953, his son said, his job was to work on "timing devices, repairing them."

Mr. Weintraut worked at several jewelry stores and watch-repair shops before opening the store.

But it wasn't just watches that went out the door, son Steven wrote in an appreciation.

"My dad ran a complete catalog business, where you could just as easily come to the store and buy a toaster or a television," as a watch.

No more. Now only watches and jewelry, Steven said.

Sometimes, Mr. Weintraut had to be a diplomat.

While being interviewed in 2013, he deftly and disarmingly handled a woman who had come in with a watch, owned by her late husband, one that needed only to be wound.

"I would have to do this every day?" the woman asked him.

"Or you could just call me for the time," he answered.

Besides sons Robert and Steven, Mr. Weintraut is survived by Dorothy, his wife of 63 years, sons Edward J. and Neil, daughter Cynthia Weintraut, and 10 grandchildren.

A visitation was set from 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, at Inglesby & Sons Funeral Home, 2426 Cove Rd., Pennsauken 08109, before an 11 a.m. service there, with interment at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum in Cherry Hill.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.inglesbyfuneralhome.com.