Obituary from the Shreveport Times newspaper, March 7, 1964, Saturday, p. 1-A:
L. E. Phelps Succumbs Here at 64 – Last Rites Today for Former City Commissioner of Public Utilities
L. E. (Ed) Phelps, who served two terms as Shreveport's public utilities commissioner, died at 11:45 a.m. Friday in P&S Hospital. He was 60.
Mr. Phelps, succumbing to a long illness, was utilities commissioner from 1954 to 1962.
He did not seek re-election in 1962 on the advice of his physician.
His career with the utilities department spanned four decades dating back to 1921 when he went to work delivering water bills from house to house.
Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at Osborn Funeral Home with Dr. Scott Tatum, pastor of Broadmoor Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Forest Park Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Roland S. Wibiker Sr., Public Utilities Commissioner L. Calhoun Allen, Jr., Water Supt. Charles Foster, Public Works Commissioner H. Lane Mitchell, Percy R. Johnson Sr., Harold C. Abbott, C. B. Smitherman and Allen Wingate.
In 1921, when veteran Commissioner Ford was mayor of the city, Mr. Phelps went to work at 19 delivering water bills.
He was given an office job three months later and worked at all positions in the collection department until he was named manager in 1942.
Mr. Phelps liked to recall the great Allendale Fire in 1925. He was sitting in the water department office when employes suddenly were besieged by irate residents complaining of low water pressure.
Then came the news of the blaze, spreading rapidly across the older residential section. Like many other men, Mr. Phelps was among those who rushed to help remove from danger whatever objects could be moved.
In 1954, Mr. Phelps quit his job with the city in a successful bid to unseat the incumbent commissioner, Joe C. Pratt. He was a member of the city council that floated the largest bond issue—$19 million—in the city's history.
He rode into office on the dry winds of a drought that brought water rationing to the city and made a sweeping modernization of Shreveport's water system his major program.
Mr. Phelps won re-election in 1958, defeating Pratt in a second primary race.
In April of 1962, Mr. Phelps announced that on the advice of his physician he would not be a candidate for a third term. However, he worked hard for the election of his successor, Allen, who defeated Pratt in a runoff election.
Mr. Phelps retired from public life after finishing his City Council term in November, 1962.
A native of Shreveport, Mr. Phelps resided at 352 Albany and was active in fraternal organizations. He served as past worshipful master of the Broadmoor Masonic Lodge and was a member of Scottish Rite Bodies, El Karubah Temple and the Broadmoor Baptist Church.
For a number of years he served as a member Selective Service Board No. 80.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry K. Phelps, both native Shreveporters. His grandfather, Otto Mulhaupt, came to Shreveport after the Civil War.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Lucille Phelps; a daughter, Mrs. Paul L. McBride Jr.; a sister, Miss Karline A. Phelps, all of Shreveport; two brothers, H. Kneeland Phelps of Shreveport and David Phelps of Kilgore; and two grandchildren.
L. E. Phelps Succumbs Here at 64 – Last Rites Today for Former City Commissioner of Public Utilities
L. E. (Ed) Phelps, who served two terms as Shreveport's public utilities commissioner, died at 11:45 a.m. Friday in P&S Hospital. He was 60.
Mr. Phelps, succumbing to a long illness, was utilities commissioner from 1954 to 1962.
He did not seek re-election in 1962 on the advice of his physician.
His career with the utilities department spanned four decades dating back to 1921 when he went to work delivering water bills from house to house.
Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at Osborn Funeral Home with Dr. Scott Tatum, pastor of Broadmoor Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Forest Park Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Roland S. Wibiker Sr., Public Utilities Commissioner L. Calhoun Allen, Jr., Water Supt. Charles Foster, Public Works Commissioner H. Lane Mitchell, Percy R. Johnson Sr., Harold C. Abbott, C. B. Smitherman and Allen Wingate.
In 1921, when veteran Commissioner Ford was mayor of the city, Mr. Phelps went to work at 19 delivering water bills.
He was given an office job three months later and worked at all positions in the collection department until he was named manager in 1942.
Mr. Phelps liked to recall the great Allendale Fire in 1925. He was sitting in the water department office when employes suddenly were besieged by irate residents complaining of low water pressure.
Then came the news of the blaze, spreading rapidly across the older residential section. Like many other men, Mr. Phelps was among those who rushed to help remove from danger whatever objects could be moved.
In 1954, Mr. Phelps quit his job with the city in a successful bid to unseat the incumbent commissioner, Joe C. Pratt. He was a member of the city council that floated the largest bond issue—$19 million—in the city's history.
He rode into office on the dry winds of a drought that brought water rationing to the city and made a sweeping modernization of Shreveport's water system his major program.
Mr. Phelps won re-election in 1958, defeating Pratt in a second primary race.
In April of 1962, Mr. Phelps announced that on the advice of his physician he would not be a candidate for a third term. However, he worked hard for the election of his successor, Allen, who defeated Pratt in a runoff election.
Mr. Phelps retired from public life after finishing his City Council term in November, 1962.
A native of Shreveport, Mr. Phelps resided at 352 Albany and was active in fraternal organizations. He served as past worshipful master of the Broadmoor Masonic Lodge and was a member of Scottish Rite Bodies, El Karubah Temple and the Broadmoor Baptist Church.
For a number of years he served as a member Selective Service Board No. 80.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry K. Phelps, both native Shreveporters. His grandfather, Otto Mulhaupt, came to Shreveport after the Civil War.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Lucille Phelps; a daughter, Mrs. Paul L. McBride Jr.; a sister, Miss Karline A. Phelps, all of Shreveport; two brothers, H. Kneeland Phelps of Shreveport and David Phelps of Kilgore; and two grandchildren.
Obituary from the Shreveport Times newspaper, March 7, 1964, Saturday, p. 1-A:
L. E. Phelps Succumbs Here at 64 – Last Rites Today for Former City Commissioner of Public Utilities
L. E. (Ed) Phelps, who served two terms as Shreveport's public utilities commissioner, died at 11:45 a.m. Friday in P&S Hospital. He was 60.
Mr. Phelps, succumbing to a long illness, was utilities commissioner from 1954 to 1962.
He did not seek re-election in 1962 on the advice of his physician.
His career with the utilities department spanned four decades dating back to 1921 when he went to work delivering water bills from house to house.
Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at Osborn Funeral Home with Dr. Scott Tatum, pastor of Broadmoor Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Forest Park Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Roland S. Wibiker Sr., Public Utilities Commissioner L. Calhoun Allen, Jr., Water Supt. Charles Foster, Public Works Commissioner H. Lane Mitchell, Percy R. Johnson Sr., Harold C. Abbott, C. B. Smitherman and Allen Wingate.
In 1921, when veteran Commissioner Ford was mayor of the city, Mr. Phelps went to work at 19 delivering water bills.
He was given an office job three months later and worked at all positions in the collection department until he was named manager in 1942.
Mr. Phelps liked to recall the great Allendale Fire in 1925. He was sitting in the water department office when employes suddenly were besieged by irate residents complaining of low water pressure.
Then came the news of the blaze, spreading rapidly across the older residential section. Like many other men, Mr. Phelps was among those who rushed to help remove from danger whatever objects could be moved.
In 1954, Mr. Phelps quit his job with the city in a successful bid to unseat the incumbent commissioner, Joe C. Pratt. He was a member of the city council that floated the largest bond issue—$19 million—in the city's history.
He rode into office on the dry winds of a drought that brought water rationing to the city and made a sweeping modernization of Shreveport's water system his major program.
Mr. Phelps won re-election in 1958, defeating Pratt in a second primary race.
In April of 1962, Mr. Phelps announced that on the advice of his physician he would not be a candidate for a third term. However, he worked hard for the election of his successor, Allen, who defeated Pratt in a runoff election.
Mr. Phelps retired from public life after finishing his City Council term in November, 1962.
A native of Shreveport, Mr. Phelps resided at 352 Albany and was active in fraternal organizations. He served as past worshipful master of the Broadmoor Masonic Lodge and was a member of Scottish Rite Bodies, El Karubah Temple and the Broadmoor Baptist Church.
For a number of years he served as a member Selective Service Board No. 80.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry K. Phelps, both native Shreveporters. His grandfather, Otto Mulhaupt, came to Shreveport after the Civil War.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Lucille Phelps; a daughter, Mrs. Paul L. McBride Jr.; a sister, Miss Karline A. Phelps, all of Shreveport; two brothers, H. Kneeland Phelps of Shreveport and David Phelps of Kilgore; and two grandchildren.
L. E. Phelps Succumbs Here at 64 – Last Rites Today for Former City Commissioner of Public Utilities
L. E. (Ed) Phelps, who served two terms as Shreveport's public utilities commissioner, died at 11:45 a.m. Friday in P&S Hospital. He was 60.
Mr. Phelps, succumbing to a long illness, was utilities commissioner from 1954 to 1962.
He did not seek re-election in 1962 on the advice of his physician.
His career with the utilities department spanned four decades dating back to 1921 when he went to work delivering water bills from house to house.
Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at Osborn Funeral Home with Dr. Scott Tatum, pastor of Broadmoor Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Forest Park Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Roland S. Wibiker Sr., Public Utilities Commissioner L. Calhoun Allen, Jr., Water Supt. Charles Foster, Public Works Commissioner H. Lane Mitchell, Percy R. Johnson Sr., Harold C. Abbott, C. B. Smitherman and Allen Wingate.
In 1921, when veteran Commissioner Ford was mayor of the city, Mr. Phelps went to work at 19 delivering water bills.
He was given an office job three months later and worked at all positions in the collection department until he was named manager in 1942.
Mr. Phelps liked to recall the great Allendale Fire in 1925. He was sitting in the water department office when employes suddenly were besieged by irate residents complaining of low water pressure.
Then came the news of the blaze, spreading rapidly across the older residential section. Like many other men, Mr. Phelps was among those who rushed to help remove from danger whatever objects could be moved.
In 1954, Mr. Phelps quit his job with the city in a successful bid to unseat the incumbent commissioner, Joe C. Pratt. He was a member of the city council that floated the largest bond issue—$19 million—in the city's history.
He rode into office on the dry winds of a drought that brought water rationing to the city and made a sweeping modernization of Shreveport's water system his major program.
Mr. Phelps won re-election in 1958, defeating Pratt in a second primary race.
In April of 1962, Mr. Phelps announced that on the advice of his physician he would not be a candidate for a third term. However, he worked hard for the election of his successor, Allen, who defeated Pratt in a runoff election.
Mr. Phelps retired from public life after finishing his City Council term in November, 1962.
A native of Shreveport, Mr. Phelps resided at 352 Albany and was active in fraternal organizations. He served as past worshipful master of the Broadmoor Masonic Lodge and was a member of Scottish Rite Bodies, El Karubah Temple and the Broadmoor Baptist Church.
For a number of years he served as a member Selective Service Board No. 80.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry K. Phelps, both native Shreveporters. His grandfather, Otto Mulhaupt, came to Shreveport after the Civil War.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Lucille Phelps; a daughter, Mrs. Paul L. McBride Jr.; a sister, Miss Karline A. Phelps, all of Shreveport; two brothers, H. Kneeland Phelps of Shreveport and David Phelps of Kilgore; and two grandchildren.
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