Richard H. Frey

Richard H. Frey, 90, of Elkhart, died on Wednesday, August 28, 2019 at Greenhouse Village in Goshen.

Richard was born October 19, 1928 in Beaver Dam, WI to the late Clarence and Anne (Beers) Frey.  He was also preceded in death by a sister, Patricia Wolfgang and two brothers, Jack and Bud Frey.

On August 15, 1953, Richard married the former Darlene Kurfirst in Berwyn, IL.  She survives along with a son, Richard (Michele) Frey of Elkhart; two daughters: Louise (Mitchell) Stemm of Union, MI and Debra (Mark) Blume of Elkhart; thirteen grandchildren and twenty-one great grandchildren.

Richard graduated from Beaver Dam High School and also the U. S. Navy School of Music.  He then graduated from the Eastern School of Musical Instrument Repair.  Richard had his own instrument repair business while in Beaver Dam.  After moving to Elkhart, he worked for Vincent Bach as an instrument repair technician for thirty years, retiring in 1993.  He was so skilled in his trade that numerous band members would often send their instruments to him so that he might work on them.  Some of those bands that relied on Richard were Chicago, Earth, Wind and Fire, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Doc Severenson and Al Hurt, to name a few.

He was a veteran of the U. S. Navy, serving during Korea and also was a member of; St. Mary’s of the Annunciation Catholic Church, U.A.W. Local 364, the Navy Musicians Association, D. A. V. Post 19, C.H.I.M.E. (Committee of Historic Instrument Manufacturers of Elkhart), the Elkhart Band Instrument Retirees Association and also the New Horizons Band, where he played in the trumpet section.  Richard was also a model railroad enthusiast.

Visitation for Richard will be held on Tuesday, September 3, 2019 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home.  Funeral services will begin immediately following visitation at 1 p.m.  The Rev. Robert Van Kempen will officiate and entombment will be in Rice Cemetery where military honors will be rendered.

Memorial contributions in memory of Richard may be made to the Elkhart County Humane Society 54687 C. R. 19 Bristol, IN 46507 or Green House Village 1640 Autumn Blaze Ln. Goshen, IN 46526

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