Obit of French Jr, Johnson L (f652) - Unknown County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 1 Sep 2004 Return to Unknown County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/okstate.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== Bakersfield Californian Johnson L. French, Jr 12/02/21 02/01/03 Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, February 5, 2003, at 11 a.m. in Greenlawn Memorial Park, 3700 River Blvd., Bakersfield, CA for Johnson L. French, Jr. John passed away February 1, 2003 as a result of heart complications, prostate cancer and bone cancer. John was born on December 2, 1921, in Fitzhugh, Arkansas to Johnson and Lena French. A brother Harold was born and the family moved to Oklahoma and then in 1932 to McPherson, Kansas. Known as Junior French and Frenchie, he graduated from high school in 1940 and attended two years at McPherson College. There he was well known for his participation in many sports activities. He was accepted into the Army Pilot Training in 1942 and retired in January 1972, at Luke AFB, Arizona as Lt. Col., after 29 years in the Air Force, during which time he flew many different aircraft. He flew combat mission from Italy in B-24s during World War II and was squadron operations officer. During the Korean Conflict, he was commander at three radar sites in northern Japan. In 1970-1971 he flew 100 combat mission in the South East Asia War and was a director of the tactical units operations center at Nakhon Phanom, Thailand. State aide assignments included those of radar squadron commander and varied position at headquarters staffs. Other overseas assignments were in Japan, England, and NATO in Germany. He was a graduate of ground electronics, fighter weapons electronics and was an expert master intercept weapons director. Highly decorated he received numerous medals, decorations, and awards during his Air Force career. While visiting his mother in 1972, a resident of Bakersfield since 1944, he met his second wife the love of his life Betty Stranathan. They were married for 26 years. John and Betty loved to travel and visited most all the scenic locations in the Western United States. John was an avid golfer and belonged to the Kern River Golf Club during active years. He was a member of the Retired Officers Association, Air Force Association, and the Navy League. He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Johnson and Lena French. Survivors include his wife, Betty French of Bakersfield, CA; sons, Michael and Kelly French; daughters, Cynthia French and Nancy Johnson and her husband Ken of Northern California; two grandsons, Spencer and Tyler; brother, Harold French and wife Rosina of Quilcene, Washington; stepson and wife Steve and Teresa Stranathan with three step granddaughters, Darcy, Tiffany and Ciarra of Bakersfield; step- daughter Jo Ann and husband Lee Varnell; granddaughters, Tonya Jordon and Becky Shelton and three great-grandchildren, Kyle and Thelsie of Stiegler, OK and Jaden Hanson of Bakersfield. Thank you to Dr. Nalos of CCC, Dr. Ravi Patel and Dr. Kanamore of CBCC for their professional help and also the staff at California Care Center (Ward B) for their help in Johns final days. Visitation begins today at 12 p.m. until 9 p.m. Greenlawn Mortuary Funeral Directors -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Unknown County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/okstate.html