FT. SMITH, AR — Donald Flanders, a longtime case goods and casual furniture manufacturer, died April 8 at his home in Ft. Smith, AR, according to information from TheCityWire.com. He was 87.

Flanders was inducted into the American Furniture Hall of Fame in 2011. Along with his wife Phala, Don Flanders founded Flanders Mfg. Co. in 1954 and oversaw the growth of the case goods company from two employees to 350, when he sold it to Riverside Furniture in 1969.

In 1982, Flanders purchased the assets of the Lloyd division of Heywood Wakefield Co. and founded Lloyd/Flanders, a Menominee, MI-based manufacturer of wicker and woven vinyl casual furniture. Dudley Flanders, Don’s son, continues as president today.

A World War II veteran with the Navy, Don Flanders' numerous achievements include president of the Southwestern Furniture Manufacturers Assn., director of the Summer and Casual Furniture Manufacturers Assn. and one of the first recipients of the SCFMA Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also active in local and national government.