Charles E. Shorday Sr., an Abington native, longtime supermarket entrepreneur, veteran, and philanthropist, died Wednesday, November 29. He was 92 years old.

According to his obituary published Tuesday by The Philadelphia Inquirer, Mr. Shorday operated 23 grocery stores in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, and Delaware Counties.

His favorite store was Shorday’s Thriftway at 1411 Old York Road in Abington, which opened in 1979, the obituary said.

In 1996, Food Trade News named him one of the top supermarket developers in the second half of the 20th century.

An excerpt from The Inquirer:

Away from work, he supported the Willow Grove YMCA, and the naming of the Shorday Atrium and Shorday Center for Advanced Gastrointestinal Surgery at Abington Hospital, and Shorday Quiet Study Room at Abington Library recognize his contributions there. He was active with food banks, lobbied for empathy and medical care during the AIDS epidemic, and supported school and community events.

Mr. Shorday received an award from the Kiwanis Club of Jenkintown for transporting hospital workers and donating food during the blizzard of 1996. He also earned recognition for his civic and charitable work from the Golden Slipper Club, Abington Lions Club, and other groups. “He knew what it was to want, to work hard, to win, and to lose,” his family said.

Donations in his name may be made to the Sisters of the Redeemer, Sr. Ellen Marvel, 1600 Huntingdon Pike, Meadowbrook, Pa. 19046; and Abington Police Athletic League, 1166 Old York Rd., Abington, Pa. 19001.

Another obituary about Mr. Shorday’s passing can be found here.

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Photo: Legacy.com