"He wasn't a high-and-mighty person," said Mr. Ehart's daughter Mary, "even though he had high ideals."
At its height, the company published newspapers including the Suburban Advertiser and the King of Prussia Courier. The company was an early user of the offset printing process in newspapers.
Born in Wayne, Mr. Ehart graduated from St. Joseph's Preparatory School in 1941 and dropped out of Villanova University to serve in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He served as a bomb site mechanic in the United States.
After the war, he came home to join the family business. His father, Albert M., had acquired the newspaper in 1899.
After Albert Ehart had a heart attack, his wife, Anna, ran the paper. Brothers William and Daniel eventually took over. While working at the paper, Mr. Ehart earned a bachelor's degree in English from St. Joseph's University in 1948.
Mr. Ehart married Johanna Buchal in 1956.
The family sold the paper in 1981 to Ingersoll Publications. Mr. Ehart stayed on as editor until 1990. Mr. Ehart, known for his antiabortion views, believed a controversial statement made during an election campaign led to his dismissal.
"I said that I could not understand why the three Jewish candidates for state representative could not equate abortion in this country with the Holocaust in Germany," Mr. Ehart said in a 1991 interview. "In my opinion, that was" the reason for dismissal.
After he left the paper, Mr. Ehart published a newsletter called That's Right, which featured conservative commentary along with political and religious news. He received awards for his writing from groups including the Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge.
Mr. Ehart retired in 2000. His brother died in 2002.
In addition to his wife and daughter, Mr. Ehart is survived by daughter Christine Fonorow; sons Daniel A. and Thomas B.; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
A viewing will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday, March 15, at St. Katharine of Siena Church, Lancaster and Aberdeen Avenues, Wayne. A Funeral Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m. Burial is at St. Denis Cemetery, Havertown.
Memorial donations may be made to to Camilla Hall Nursing Home, c/o IHM Mission Advancement, Box 200, Immaculata, Pa. 19345-0200.
Contact Kristin E. Holmes at 610-313-8211 or kholmes@phillynews.com.
