ASHLAND CITY, TENN. — Herbert Lindahl, 78, one of the founders of State Industries, died Jan. 2. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Chen Lindahl; brother, John R. Lindahl; daughter, Evie; son, Eric; and stepsons, LiWei Chen and Paul Chen.

Lindahl was a graduate of Vanderbilt University in 1950. He began his career at State Stove and Manufacturing Co. in 1946 and had 55 years experience in the water heater business. He helped build State Industries from a start-up company into a leading manufacturer of water heaters.

John R. Lindahl founded State Stove in Nashville after World War II, although by 1948 the company was making water heaters exclusively. State Industries moved to a new factory in Ashland City in 1961. Its biggest break came four years later when Sears awarded State all its water heater business. In September 2001, A.O. Smith Corp. purchased all the stock of State Industries from the Lindahl family.

The family asked that memorials be made to the National Kidney Foundation of Middle Tennessee, 2120 Crestmoor Road, Nashville, TN 37215-2613.