Edward A. Farnan Jr., ran family jewelry store

Edward A. Farnan Jr., 87, former president of a Philadelphia-area family jewelry company, died Sunday, Nov. 4, of heart failure at Abington Memorial Hospital.

Mr. Farnan and his brother, John, joined their father in the family jewelry store, Edward A. Farnan & Sons Jewelers at 11th and Sansom Streets, taking over the business in the 1950s. Farnan Jewelers, now in Wayne, is run by Mr. Farnan's niece Claire Farnan.

Mr. Farnan was raised in Philadelphia's Olney section. He attended La Salle College High School and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

After graduating from high school in 1943, Mr. Farnan joined the Navy, where he served in the South Pacific during World War II. He was stationed in New Guinea, the Admiralty Islands, Borneo, and the Philippines.

In 1959, Mr. Farnan married Ellen Bythrow, his wife of 53 years. After operating the jewelry store for many years, Mr. Farnan retired in the 1980s.

He was a longtime member of St. Luke the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Glenside. He was active in the antiabortion movement and was a member of the Knights of Columbus and VFW Post 676 in Glenside, where he served as post commander.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by sons Edward A. 3d and Anthony P.

A viewing will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11, at St. Luke the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 2316 Fairhill Ave., Glenside. Burial will be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Glenside.