BRIDGETOWN — For decades, Paul Guenther lived in an apartment above the store on Harrison Avenue where he and his family made candy. Although he turned the business over to four of his daughters and officially retired in 1984, “He was still making candy until he had a heart attack two weeks ago,” said daughter Kathy Guenther of Bridgetown. Mr. Guenther, founder of the Fawn Candy Co., died Sunday of heart failure at Good Samaritan Hospital. He was 79.

        A returning World War II Navy veteran, he bought the Fawn Fountain, an ice cream parlor on Harrison Avenue in Cheviot, in 1946.

        He told the Enquirer in 1995 that he bought the ice cream parlor with the intention of adding homemade candy to its offerings, although his only skill was eating candy.

        After watching a candy maker at work and researching recipes, he began making and selling hand-dipped chocolates. In 1970 he discontinued selling ice cream altogether.

        In 1984, Mr. Guenther turned the business over to his daughters, Kathy, Jackie Copenhaver of Hidden Valley Lake, Jean Guenther Ranz of Colerain Township and Janie Guenther Oka of Mount Airy.

        They changed the name to Fawn Confectionary and opened retail outlets at Northgate Mall in 1988 and Rookwood Pavilion in 1995. The four sisters still make the fillings for their opera creams in 90-pound batches and roll them by hand.

        Although he retired, Mr. Guenther never let go of the business. Conserva tive by nature, he worried about maintaining quality while stocking three stores and whether they would do well on the east side.

        While his daughters prepared to open the new shop in Norwood, he sat in the parking lot counting customers at the shopping center and quizzed other store managers about business volume.

        When the store was finally opened in December 1995, he walked in and cried with joy.

        Mr. Guenther grew up in Covedale and graduated from Western Hills High School. He enlisted in the Navy during World War II and served with the Navy Seabees in Okinawa.

        He was a volunteer for the Hamilton County Park Board and a member of the Bridgetown Civic Association, the Elder Dad's Club, the Purcell Knights of Columbus, Green Township VFW Post No. 10380 and the Green Township Democrats. He was an avid golfer, who at 78 shot a 76.

        Jean Maroules Guenther, his wife of 45 years, died in 1990.

        In addition to his four daughters, other survivors include two sons, Paul Jr. of Williamstown, Ky. and Dan of Dallas; another daughter, Chris Espelage of Bradenton, Fla.; 15 grandchildren; and five great-grandsons.

        A memorial Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Jude Church, 5924 Bridgetown Road, followed by a reception at Nathanael Greene Lodge, 6394 Wesselman Road in Dent.

        Mr. Guenther's remains have been cremated and will be interred during a private service.

        Memorials: St. Jude School Tuition Assistance Fund, 5924 Bridgetown Road, Cincinnati 45248.

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