Van Day Truex (March l5, 1904-April 24, 1979) was an American interior designer, professor of design, and painter and a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor (Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur). He was born in Delphos, Kansas, the son of John Sherman Truex and Estel Van Landingham Day. J. Sherman and Estel Day Truex were close associates of James Cash Penney, managing some of the earliest of Mr. Penney’s “Golden Rule” stores. Estel was a first cousin of Earl Sams, second president of the J. C. Penney Company. The Truexes had two sons and two daughters, none of whom had children of their own. Van, despite being a brilliant student, encountered the increasing disapproval of his father, offended by this older son’s artistic and feminine personality; hence the parents were disengaged from Van from adolescence on. He was, however, emotionally and financially supported by his aunt, Leta Day (Mrs. Bert) Nicol, another of the early Penney colleagues.
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