Friend

Joseph H. Friend, 73, of Butler died Tuesday morning at his home.

Born Jan. 4, 1935, in Orland, Maine, he was a son of the late Ralph and Minnie (Christy) Friend.

He had worked as a journeyman boilermaker for Boilermaker Union 154 for 40 years until his retirement in 1996.

He was a member of Brandywine Masonic Lodge 33 in Wilmington, Del., and the lodge council, chapter, Consistory Scottish Rite in the Valley of Coudersport. Also he belonged to the Tri-State Country Music Association, where he was a board member, the VFW in Ford City, the East Butler Volunteer Fire Department and the Chicora Moose Lodge 962.

Joe had enjoyed hunting, Bluegrass music, gardening vegetables and flowers and traveling.

Surviving are his wife, Barbara L. Friend, who he married June 29, 1997; a son, Ralph Friend and his wife, Fran, of Derry; a daughter, Jolan Friend of Gaithersburg, Md.; two stepsons, Bob Kelley and Melvin Kelley, and his wife, Desiree, all of Butler; seven grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a grandson, two brothers and two sisters.

<B>FRIEND</B>— Friends of Joseph H. Friend, who died Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>, 201 E. Cunningham St. Cremation services are provided by Geibel Funeral Home.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.