Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....French, Robert G. 2001
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net June 16, 2011, 11:45 am

Ionia Sentinel, 2001

Robert G. French, age 83, lifetime resident of Ionia, passed away Saturday, 
June 16, 2001, at Heartland Health Care Center following a short illness.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth Frey French.

Mr. French was born January 18, 1918, in Ionia, the son of Lyle G. French and 
Henrietta Weisgerber French.  He was graduated from Ionia High School in 1936.  
At that time, because of the death of his father, he became owner and operator 
of the family business, G.W. French, founded by his grandfather in 1896.   He 
operated the business with his mother until her death in 1979.  In April 1982, 
he married Ruth Frey and together they operated the business until its closing 
in February 2000.  Mr. French was Ionia’s most senior businessman operating the 
104 year old family business for 65 years.

Mr. French was a longtime member of Ionia First United Methodist Church.  He 
served with the U.S. Navy in World War II assigned to the USS Prairie in the 
Pacific theatre.

Following his discharge from military service in 1945 he returned to the family 
business and resumed and remained active in community affairs.

He served his community with distinction as a charter member of Ionia Jaycees, 
member and former board member of the Ionia Chamber of Commerce, and past 
president of the Downtown Retail Group.  He worked with the Downtown 
Development Authority and was a leader in the Downtown Revitalization efforts 
chairing the Design and Façade Committee of the Revitalization Committee.  Mr. 
French took great pride in Ionia and through his vision and efforts did much to 
improve it.  It was the street lamp he installed in front of his Main Street 
store that was the model for all the historic-looking lights placed throughout 
the city.

Both his church and community benefited greatly from his leadership and 
philanthropic endeavors.  Ionia recognized and honored his commitment to the 
city in 1998 when he was invited to serve as Grand Marshal of the Ionia Free 
Fair Parade.

Besides his wife, Mr. French is survived by several first cousins and many 
treasured friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and older sister, Jane Ann French who 
died in her youth.

Funeral service honoring his life will be held Tuesday at 1 p.m. at First 
United Methodist with the Rev. Martin Culver officiating.  Visitation will be 
at the church one hour prior to the service at noon.  Burial will be at 
Highland Park Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s 
Association, Ionia Area Hospice or the First United Methodist Church.  
Envelopes are available at the church and Cook Funeral Home.


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