Ludwig (Lou) Adler, 84, of Atlanta, died on the day of his 59th wedding anniversary, February 10, 2011. Born May 7, 1926 in Edelfingen Germany, his parents sent him to Amsterdam soon after Kristallnacht in 1938. Through the Kindertransport, he left Amsterdam for England on May 14, 1940, on the SS Bodegraven, along with 74 other refugee Jewish children, one hour before Holland capitulated to the Nazis. He spent the next couple of years in a foster home. In 1943 he came to the United States, was reunited with his parents and sister, and joined the US Navy three weeks after arrival. During the last two years of WWII, he served on the USS Saratoga aircraft carrier. While in England he apprenticed as a cabinetmaker and became adept at carpentry. After he was discharged from the Navy, he attended architecture school at Cooper Union for a couple of years but was not able to complete his degree due to the need to support his family. He combined his carpentry skills and design training when he and a partner opened Hill Manufacturing, a furniture manufacturing company in NY. As his career progressed, he specialized in the design and manufacturing of furniture for beauty and barber shops. In 1963, a career opportunity brought him to Atlanta, GA and he eventually opened Lou Adler & Associates with his wife, Edna. Lou was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He never missed an opportunity to give his children and grandchildren the traditional Jewish blessing and he always expressed how proud he was of his family. He was very proud to be Jewish and American. He was a strong supporter of the State of Israel. Ludwig is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Erna (Edna) Adler, his three sons and their wives, Yitzchok and Leslie, David and Eve and Stuart and Karen. And by nine grandchildren and one great grandchild. The grandchildren are Ariela and husband YehudaBrum, Miriam and husband RachmilStrazynski, Talya, husband Daniel Gutenberg and great grandchild Tzivia, Jonathan Adler and wife Hila, Kayla Adler, Aaron Adler, Hillel Adler, Noah Adler and Jonah Adler. He is also survived by his sister Erna Illfelder of Harrisburg, PA and nieces, nephews and cousins. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The Weinstein Hospice, Yeshiva Atlanta High School, Congregation Beth Tefillah, Congregation Ariel or Beth David Synagogue (in West Hartford, CT), or a charity of your choice. Graveside services will be held on Sunday, February 13, 2011 at 1:00 pm at Crestlawn Cemetery. Sign on-line guestbook: www.edressler.com. Arrangements by Dressler's Jewish Funeral Care (770) 451-4999.

Published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on February 12, 2011.