King Karpen; Founder of Bedding Firm

King Karpen, 80, who despite being blind founded the Aireloom Bedding Co. in Alhambra, one of the largest makers of premium bedding and sleep sofas in the country. Karpen, who won many home furnishing awards during his lengthy career, designed pillow-top mattresses shortly after establishing Aireloom in 1950 at a time when he had lost 95% of his sight. His blindness, caused by a rare childhood disease, worsened as he grew older but he maintained quality control over his products through a keen sense of touch. His knowledge of his factory’s machinery was said to be such that he could dictate repair instructions by examining a faulty part with his hands. In Los Angeles on Nov. 19 of the complications of cancer.