uolles

Bryan Gentry, 65, founder and president of Builders' Super Market Inc., Abingdon, Va., died Oct. 9 in Abingdon.

Born in Ashe County, N.C., he worked in a hardwood flooring Plant in West Jefferson, N.C., before founding the company in 1956.

H. Edison Thomas, 61, founder and president of Thomas Wood heserving Co. Inc., Elliott, Ms., died of cancer Nov. 2 in Grenada, Ms.

Born in McRae, Ga., he founded Thomas Wood Preserving in 1963. In 1984, he founded Thomas Trucking, Elliott, and in 1987 co-founded Memphis Wood Preserving, Horn Lake, Ms.

He served on the board ofdirectors of the American Wood Preservers Association and Mississippi Lumber Manufacturers Association.

Charles H. Sims, Jr.,79, owner of Sims Lumber Co., Selma, Al., died Aug. 19 in Selma.

The firm is no longer in business.

Distributors Less Confident

Wholesaler-distributors' confidence in current business conditions decreased on a short-term and longterm basis, according to a new Arthur Andersen LLP survey.

Current Quarter Index (July-Sept. '97) fell ftom 122.7 to 119.6. The Year Ahead Index (for July 1997June '98) slipped from 107.6 to 106.2. The index operates on a base of 100, rccorded in second quarter 1991.