French, William Charles 1890-1968

FRENCH, HOUSEL, KINGDON, AUMAN, COGGINS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 2/23/2011 at 11:17:13

The Grinnell Herald-Register

W.C. FRENCH DIES; SERVICES THURSDAY

William Charles French, age 78, of 1018 West St., Grinnell, died suddenly this morning (Sept. 9) at his home.

The son of Charles and Mary Housel French, he was born Aug. 28, 1890, at Newton, Iowa. He was graduated from Newton high school with the class of 1910 and later attended Highland Park College at Des Moines. He joined Co. L. of the 54th Iowa National Guard and was mustered out with the company as a sergeant. He later entered the U.S. Army and served as a sergeant with the 337 Machine Gun Battalion with the A.E.F. in the Haute Alsace engagement during World War I.

Following his discharge he returned to Iowa and on Dec. 25, 1920, he married Achsa Beula Kingdon at the Kingdon home in Grinnell. To this union were born four sons--John Charles French, who was killed in 1944 at the Battle of Okinawa; Clyde K. French, presently of Ponce, Puerto Rico; Jerry Wayne French, who died in infancy; and Guy William French of Grinnell.

In addition to his widow and two sons, Mr. French leaves five grandchildren; one sister--Mrs. W.G. (Edith) Auman of Los Angeles, Calif.; and one cousin--Mrs. Mae Coggins of Killduff, Iowa.

After leaving Newton, Mr. French had lived in Marshalltown and Grinnell. He had been active in C.C.C. work during the depression, and also had worked as a machinist with the Automatic Washing Machine Co. and X-Act Mfg. Co. of Grinnell. He later was employed at the Post Office and McGregor Furniture Co.

Mr. French was a member of the United Methodist church; Stanley-Marchellino Post #3932, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Lewis C. Murdock Post #640, American Legion, and the Grinnell Odd Fellows Lodge #119, where he had served as Past Noble Grand.

Funeral services for Mr. French will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. J. Eugene Young, pastor of the United Methodist church, officiating.

Burial will be in Hazelwood cemetery, Grinnell.

Friends may call at the Smith Funeral Home.