Thomas Forkner, a founder of Waffle House, the family restaurant chain known for its hearty food, friendly staff and perpetual business hours, died on Wednesday in Suwanee, Ga. He was 98.

His son, Tom Jr., confirmed the death. Joseph W. Rogers, who founded Waffle House with Mr. Forkner, died in March.

Mr. Forkner first encountered Mr. Rogers in 1949, when Mr. Forkner, who was working in real estate then, sold him a house near his own in Avondale Estates, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta.

Mr. Rogers, who worked in a restaurant chain, and Mr. Forkner became friends and then business partners when they opened the first Waffle House in Avondale Estates in 1955.