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Patricia Anawalt, who died in October at age 91, was a former UCLA anthropologist and chairman of Anawalt Lumber in Los Angeles.
The lumber company was founded in 1923 and is still family owned. The business has four retail locations in Southern California.
The North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) recognized the company’s president and CEO, Rolando Robles, this year as one of the home improvement industry’s Top Guns, an award that honors retailers’ operational success, industry contributions and retail innovations.
Patricia Anawalt studied historic rituals and clothing, founded the Center for the Study of Regional Dress at UCLA and was author of the book “The Worldwide History of Dress,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
Her husband of 55 years was Richard Anawalt, who was also a former chairman of Anawalt Lumber. Patricia Anawalt replaced Richard Anawalt as company chairman when he died in 2000.
Patricia Anawalt is survived by her children, Katie, David and Fred, and four grandchildren.
