SUN LAKES, Ariz. — Vernon Lee French, died on March 3, 2024, at Robson Reserve in Sun Lakes, Ariz. He was 97 years old.
Vernon was born May 21, 1926, in Spink County to Pearl and Earl French, and grew up in Beadle County, where he attended school.
He married Marilyn June Palmer June 13, 1948, in Danube, Minn., after his return from WWII. They raised three children. Vern and Marilyn moved from Danube to Bryan, Ohio in 1959 for Vern to take a position with the Ohio Art Company. They would make it their home for 59 years.
In 1991 Vern retired from the Ohio Art Company as the Director of Transportation and Warehousing. Since 2001 they lived in Sunbird Golf Resort in Chandler, Ariz., initially as snowbirds and then full-time, starting in 2017.
In the early years Vernon farmed until graduation from Humbolt Institute in St. Paul, Minn., and before moving to Bryan. He served on Bryan City Council for 25 years and volunteered in the community through several organizations, including Lions Club, Masonic Temple, Butler Street Faith United Methodist Church and New Hope Church. Vern and Marilyn played in several bridge clubs in Bryan and Chandler, golf and loved “coffee with the guys.”
Vernon loved his family; especially hosting family holidays and gatherings. He also loved the A to Z senior group and Sunday school class with New Hope Church. Vernon also loved attending the Community Church of Sunbird in Chandler, where Vernon served on the leadership committee for four years. He is remembered as being such a great guy, an excellent listener, a gardener, and a talented woodworker and will be fondly remembered.
Vernon is preceded in death by Marilyn in 2020 after almost 72 years of marriage, his father Earl; his mother Pearl; and his sisters Jean Hurst of Redfield, Lois Poe of Bonilla, brothers Wayne French and Norman French of Redfield.
He is survived by his sister Eleanor Christianson of Kalispell, Mont.; a son Curtis (Susan) French of Syracuse, Ind., and Chandler, Ariz; a son Craig (Pat) French of Norwalk, Ohio; a daughter Cherri (Steve) Meyer of Bryan, Ohio and Chandler, Ariz.; 13 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
The family is planning a visitation on Friday afternoon, July 26, 2024, and Celebration of Life, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. both in Bryan, at a location yet to be determined.
Interment with military rites will be held following the Celebration of Life at Shiffler Cemetery, Bryan, Ohio.
Memorials may be made to the Vernon L. French Memorial Scholarship c/o Bryan Area Foundation, PO Box 651, Bryan, Ohio, 43506