William Bill French's Obituary
William French age 84, of Moravia , Iowa died Thursday, September 13, 2012 at Mercy Medical Center, Centerville, IA.
Bill was born January 15, 1928 to Eastman and Lula Epperson French at home near Savannah, Iowa. He attended school in Davis County and later at Moulton, High School where he graduated in 1946. Bill was married to Beatrice Southern, June 1, 1947 at the Christian Church parsonage in Bloomfield, Iowa with Fred Sawyer officiating. He accepted Christ at a young age and was presently a member of the Grace United Methodist Church in Moravia. He was also a member of the Moravia Masonic Lodge # 252.
Bill and Bea farmed most of their lives in Davis and Appanoose County. Except for a few years where they owned and operated a country convenience store near Astoria, Oregon. When they retired they moved back to Moravia where they have made their home.
Bill is survived by his wife of sixty five years, Beatrice of Moravia children Mike (Sally) French of Rosemount, MN, Mark (Deb) French of Moravia, Marjorie (Williams) of Ottumwa and Martha (Darrell) Walsh of Lake in the Hills, Illinois, a sister in law Roberta French of Portland, Oregon, 8 grandchildren Lisa Richardson of Ottumwa, Teresa Magers of Ottumwa, Filisha (Pat) Johnson of Zimmerman, MN, Becky (Brad) Wilcox of Kansas City, MO, Nathan (Mary Anne) French of Farmington, MN, Christina (Craig) Sappington of St. Charles, IL, Amber (Rick) Exline Trout of Seymour, Iowa, Krystal Phipps of Centerville; 12 Great grandchildren Jordan and Jacob Johnson of Zimmerman, MN, Trenton Wilcox of Kansas City, MO, Donavan Dentler of Farmington, MN, Addison Richardson of Ottumwa, Sierra and Peyton Exline of Seymour, IA, Caden and Cambria Sappington both of St. Charles, IL, Nicole Richardson of Texas, Hannah Tennsion of Ottumwa, Iowa and Becca Rukgaber of Ottumwa; 1 great great grandson Landon Jones.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a great grandchild Eddie Richardson, a brother Gene French and a son-in-law Billy Williams.
Memorial services will be held 10 AM, Saturday, September 22, 2012 at the Grace United Methodist Church in Moravia with Pastor Cindy Finn officiating. Inurnment of the cremains will follow in the Sunset View Cemetery near Moulton, IA with Moravia Masonic Lodge # 252 assisting with the service., A visitation will be held on Friday, September 21, 2012 at Lange Funeral Home in Moravia from 9 AM-8 PM, with the family present from 6-8 PM that evening. Memorials have been established to either the Grace United Methodist Church Building Fund, the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), or the Moravia First Responders and may be given to Lange Funeral Home. Condolences may be shared online at www.langefh.com.
Visitation
September 21, 2012 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Lange Funeral Home 103 North Johns St. Moravia, IA (641) 724-3413
Memorial Service
September 22, 2012 10:00 AM
Grace United Methodist Church Moravia, IA
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