Herschel Scheidt, who grew up on a farm in Clifty, married, served in WWII, and came home and reared a family while working and retiring from Arvin Industries, will be back in Columbus next week to celebrate his 100th birthday.
Scheidt and his late wife Imogene moved to Atlanta in 2007 to be near their son Dennis, his wife and 11 grandchildren.
Many of the Scheidt clan, which include his 11 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and one tiny great, great grandchild will gather at Abe Martin Lodge in Brown County to celebrate the milestone.
"Granpa," as Herschel is known, is in great health and will give the narrative on driving tours around Columbus by pointing out family homesteads and hangouts along with historical sites, architectural landmarks, and favorite tourist spots. Columbus Salvation Army will donate their 17-passenger van so that Scheidt can give two guided tours of Columbus and Bartholomew County to his family while they’re in town.
Herschel’s family lived in a house on Coovert Street in Columbus, where he tended a huge garden and provided the neighborhood with his bumper crop of produce each summer.
Scheidt, whose birthday is April 22, is very proud of a recent birthday card signed by former Vice President Mike Pence, and likes to conclude that “all good things come from Indiana," his family said.
