Henry A. Phend, 92, well-known local building contractor, died at 2:00 o'clock this morning at the Irvin Nursing Home, where he had been a patient since February 15, 1956.

On January 29, 1956 he fell in his home and suffered a fractured right hip. Up until that time he had been active with the contracting business but following his injury he was forced to remain a bed patient.

Mr. Phend was a native of Hepton, south of Nappanee, born November 7, 1865, a son of Jacob and Louisa Fisher Phend. He was united in marriage to Miss Susie Yarian, September 4, 1892 in Nappanee by the Rev. O. L. Richart, a minister of the Evangelical United Brethren Church. The Phends observed their 60th wedding anniversary in 1952. Mrs. Phend died April 29, 1956.

Following their marriage they went to Harvey, Ill. Where they established their first home. They later returned to Nappanee and in 1898 came to Columbia City, where Mr. Phend was employed at the Heel factory. In 1920 they moved to the Phend residence at 502 South Chauncey street where he has since resided. Mr. Phend was a member of the Evangelical United Brethren Church.

Throughout his life, Mr. Phend served the Columbia City community as a building contractor, building many homes and in addition to the family home constructed, he likewise constructed a number of churches, among which were the EUB Church in this city, the Collins EUB and Hively EUB, the Big Lake Church of God, and was superintendent of the construction of the Trinity Methodist Church. He served as inspector on the Mary Raber school built in 1952.

In addition to the buildings constructed by him he has likewise been responsible for building a number of downtown store buildings and has remodeled more than 50 of the down town store fronts.

Mr. Phend was the last of a family of seven children. The surviving relatives include seven sons, Victor, Larwill; Cecil, Merriam; Russell, Tarpon Springs, Florida; Paul, Antwerp, Ohio; Donald, Virgil and Gerald of this city; and a daughter, Mrs. Bernice Turner, Temple City, Calif. He is survived by 30 grandchildren and 51 great-grandchildren.

The body is at the Smith Funeral Home, where friends may call after 7:00 this evening. At noon Saturday the body will be taken to the EUB Church to lie in state until the hour of funeral at 2:00 p.m. The church pastor, the Rev. P.F. Young and the Rev. Cecil Smith of Goblesville, will officiate at the services. Burial will be in South Park cemetery.

Source: Columbia City Post July 10, 1958