WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Long-time industry sales professional Robert M. Brenner died on May 28 at his home. He was 74.
He was born Jan. 12, 1947, in Cincinnati, the son of Milton and Betty Brenner. He grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where he played football, basketball and baseball. Although he received an invitation from Major League Baseball requesting that he enter the draft, he chose to play football – as a tight end – for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in Winston-Salem. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1970. On July 15, 1974, he married Snow Warner Brenner.
He worked in the industry for 50 years, retiring in early 2020. He started in the training program at Drexel Heritage in 1970 and took his first territory with the company in Michigan around 1972. Around 1974, the company relocated him to Minneapolis, where he covered six states and Winnipeg, Canada.
In 1976, Brenner shifted to south Florida, where he represented the respective lines of Dixie Furniture and Henry Link. In 1980, he moved back to North Carolina to work for Singer Furniture, while also carrying Phillip Reinisch curios, plus some other lines.
From 1996 to around 2002, he represented Vaughan Furniture, working with executive Billy Morris. And from 2002 until his retirement in March 2020, Brenner represented Samuel Lawrence Furniture.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother and is survived by his wife, Snow Warner Brenner, his six children and several grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Salemtowne Resident’s Assistance Fund, 1000 Salemtowne Drive, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27106 or Feeding Lisa’s Kids, Wesley Memorial United Methodist, 1225 Chestnut Street, High Point, NC 27262. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.
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