Brian Fend

AMS2 Brian L. Fend, U.S. Navy, retired, 53, of Slippery Rock passed away at 1:32 p.m. Saturday at the VNA Inpatient Hospice.

He was born on Dec. 16, 1961, in Butler, to the late Cyril Gene Fend Sr. and Patricia L. Faull Butler.

Brian graduated from Seneca Valley High School in 1980.

He served in the U.S. Navy. While stationed on the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) from 1981 to 1986, he traveled to many countries and ports and was an active participant following the Beirut Lebanon Marine barracks bombing. He served during the Gulf War, providing support during Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Brian worked as a Navy recruiter in Greensburg and Butler. He was also stationed at USNAS Bermuda and USNAS Patuxent (PAX) River, Md., and attended many training schools before retiring in 1996. He earned many awards and citations for his military service.

Brian was a member of the American Legion Post 243, West Sunbury. He enjoyed his work as a test-cell operator at General Electric in Grove City. He also had worked as a deer farmer, truck driver, laborer, molder and a quality inspector for Boeing in Wichita, Kan.

Brian enjoyed his Mustang, riding his Harley and deer hunting, and he especially loved spending time with his family and his many cherished friends and neighbors.

Brian is survived by his wife, Jane M. Baldeshwiler Fend, who he married on Feb. 1, 1985; his two sons, Brian L. Fend II and his wife, Jennifer, of Rochester and Bradley D. Fend at home; his daughter, Brianna I. Fend at home; his three grandchildren, Abigail Marie, Kyle Joseph and Zackary Brian Fend, born on Jan. 14, 2015, and another grandson expected in July by Brad and his girlfriend, Jodee; his three brothers, Gene Fend and his wife, Lenore, of Prospect, Gary Fend Sr. and his wife, Donna, of Evans City and Kevin Fend and his wife, Margie, of West Middlesex; his two sisters, Linda Daniels and her husband, Dennis, of Slippery Rock and Sharon Whitaker and her husband, George, of Albuquerque, N.M.; his many aunts, uncles, cousins and brothers and sisters-in-law; and several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a niece and a nephew.

Fend— The friends of AMS2 Brian L. Fend, who passed away Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015, will be received from 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, 124 E. North St., Butler.A blessing service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Officers and members of the VFW Post 249, the American Legion Post 117 Butler and the American Legion Post 778 Lyndora will conduct military honors following the service at the funeral home.Online condolences can be given at www.thompson-miller.com.