A notable Wayne figure for decades, Lawrence Adelberger died Tuesday, July 19th, on his 103rd birthday. Adelberger's father, Frank, began Wayne's oldest operating business, Adelberger's Florists, in 1888. Lawrence took over the family business in 1940, growing the company and bringing it into prominence as a reseller as well as a wholesale flower grower. His son, Lawrence Jr., took over the business in 1970, but Lawrence Sr. remained active at the Florist's into his 90s.

Mr. Adelberger contributed his memories to the Radnor Oral History Project in 1979, recounting his father's flower business and other memories of Wayne. He was also profiled in the Philadelphia Inquirer's 'Neighbors' section on March 25, 2001, at the beginning of Radnor Township's Centennial celebration. About living in Radnor, he said "It's a really great place to be. At one time, it was so small that most all of the people knew each other. Now it's gotten so big that I wonder how people keep up with each other. But somehow, they manage. When I was growing up, it was close, one big family. That's the way Wayne was."