Obituary of Somphieng Inthiphab

Somphieng Inthiphab was born on December 1,1945 in the village of Thakhek, Khammouane Province, Laos. He was one of 12 children of Professor Joseph Pan Inthiphab and Mrs. Bounheuang Phanthaturath. Somphieng was the third born son out of 6 boys and 6 girls. He graduated from Thakhek High School and continued his study in Pakxan, Laos where he focused in religion. Somphieng was fluent in French and English where he taught students. Somphieng received a study grant to continue his religious studies in Cambodia. He then changed his major to study civil engineering where he attended Technology University in Phnom Phen, Cambodia in 1968 where he met his wife Hien Nguyen. Although they met in Cambodia, Somphieng and his wife communicated with each other in French. They had 3 children while living in Cambodia. In 1972, they returned to Vientiane, Laos where he worked as an electrician at the Vientiane Power Plant and his wife Hien worked at INS in Vientiane. They had 3 more children together born in Laos. They lived in Vientiane until 1983 and during the secret war period they sought refuge in Thailand Napoe camp from 1984-1986. Somphieng and his 4 children immigrated to the United States in September 1986 where he started his life in Bridgeport, CT.  He reunited with his two sisters Thammano Inthiphab and Lathsamy Theresa Sayabatha. Somphieng was a superhero dad who supported his children on his own. His wife and 2 sons were able to reunite with the family in the United States in 1990. In pursuit of education, Somphieng attended Norwalk Technology college from 1991-1994 and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Engineering. Somphieng worked at US surgical from 1992 thru 1997. In 1997, he moved to Concord, NC and worked at Honeywell until 2006. He was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancer and underwent treatment in VA between  2007- 2009, while under his daughter Rosa’s care. Somphieng was in remission and then he moved to St.Petersburg, Florida from 2009 until 2021. In 2013, Somphieng was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and underwent heart surgery. He maintained a healthy life until he became ill due to Pneumonia and heart failure on January 2, 2021. He was admitted to St. Anthony’s Hospital and passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving wife Hien, daughters Anita, Bonnie, Rosa, Teddy, grandson Anthony, granddaughter Nina, sisters Thammano and Lathsamy Theresa, and niece Neth.  He is survived by 7 children (Meng, Panya, Anita, Rosa, Prathana, Ninith) 13 grandchild (Ashley, Eriz, Nathan, Belinda, Tevin, Tasha, Vanida, Victor, Aleena, Nicholas, Nina, Christopher, Anthony), 4 great grandkids (Tye, Aleiyah, Quest, Kaiden), 5 sisters (Phokham, Thammano, Mayoly, Lathsamy, and Songpraseuth) and 1 brother Anong in France.