Philip Ernst Jr. dies at age 76

Philip Ernst Jr., 76, 522 Okla., a longtime Lawrence businessman and hardware store operator, died Tuesday night at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Warren-McElwain Mortuary. Private burial at Memorial Park Cemetery will precede the services.

Mr. Ernst formed a partnership in the Ernst and Son hardware store with his father in 1925. He later bought his father's interest in the business and operated the store until he retired in 1976. His son, Philip R. Ernst, now operates the store at 826 Mass.

Mr. Ernst was born May 27, 1905, in Lawrence. He was a member of the Oddfellows Lodge and was a former member of the Lawrence Sertoma Club and the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.

Friends may call at the funeral home from noon to 9 p.m. Thursday.

A memorial fund has been established in his name with the Leukemia Society and the Douglas County Heart Fund in care of the mortuary.