In 1978, he came up with the idea of a warehouse-style store that would appeal to the do-it-yourself homeowner. With a partner’s help it became the world’s largest home-improvement retailer.

He was 95. Marcus, whom Forbes has previously listed as the richest man in Georgia, became wealthy after he and Arthur Blank opened the first two Home Depot stores in 1979 in Atlanta. The hardware store chain defined by its orange theme has since grown ...

Bernard “Bernie” Marcus, the co-founder of The Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement chain, a billionaire philanthropist, and a big Republican donor, has died