Edward Litwin | Camden grocer, 88

Edward Litwin, 88, who operated a corner grocery store in Camden for 50 years, died of cancer Thursday at Samaritan Hospice in Mount Holly.

Mr. Litwin, who grew up in Camden, dropped out of school at 11, after his mother died, to help support his family. He sold produce from a pushcart, his son, Larry, said, and by 15 was operating his own store at Eighth and Elm Streets with help from relatives.

Mr. Litwin also started a wholesale business. On a delivery to a South Philadelphia grocery, he met the owners' daughter, Jean Cohen. They married in 1940.

During World War II, he worked at the Penn-Jersey Shipbuilding Co. while continuing to run the Elm Street store. After the war, his brother Philip joined him at the store, which was renamed Litwin Bros.

The men supported churches, schools and organizations in Camden, Larry Litwin said, and were so respected in the community that the grocery was undamaged in the race riots in the late 1960s. He said, "Word on the street was, 'Don't touch Litwins' store.' "

The business did come under assault on July 1, 1974, when a robber fired shots into the store. A child was killed and several people were wounded, including Mr. Litwin, who was shot five times. He recovered and continued to operate Litwin Bros. until 1985, when he retired to Coconut Creek, Fla.

Mr. Litwin was a member of the South Jersey Hebrew Association and the Bloomfield Park Volunteer Fire Company in Pennsauken.

He was an expert in the craft of paper tole and donated his work to raise funds for Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills.

In addition to his son, he is survived by daughters Janice Barbell and Eileen Weisman; two sisters; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. His wife died in 2004.

A funeral was Friday at Platt Memorial Chapel in Cherry Hill. Burial was in Crescent Memorial Park in Pennsauken.