1947
Larry
2012
Larry S. French
July 29, 1947 — November 30, 2012
He was born in Gardner on July 29, 1947, son of the late Frederick E. and Barbara C. (McAdams) French and was a lifelong resident of Phillipston.
Larry and his brother Rick were the first Eagle Scouts under Scoutmaster George Marshal. A 1965 graduate of Narragansett High School, he was a member of its National Honor Society, As a member of Future Farmers of America, he went to Waterloo, Iowa for cattle judging. He later graduated from Stockbridge in 1967 with a degree in Agriculture.
At that time, Larry entered the United States Army, serving in Vietnam with the rank of SP5. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Expert Badge M-16 and Sharpshooter Badge M-14. Larry worked at the Walter E. Fernald School for 35 years, working his way up the ranks to Director of Farm Grounds at the time of his retirement.
Larry attended the Phillipston Congregational Church. Larry was a member of Ovila Case Post #905 VFW and the American Legion of Athol. He was a member of Worcester West Forests Wardens Association and organized agricultural fairs in Phillipston after returning from Vietnam. Larry was awarded Worcester County Farmer of the Year in 2000 by the Worcester County League of Sportsmens Club. He was a member of Phillipston Agriculture Commission, Phillipston Historical Commission and Phillipston 225th committee. He was a cemetery commissioner and burial agent for the Town of Phillipston. Larry was also a retired member of Phillipston Fire Department, serving for 25 years and an EMT, firefighter and its Deputy Chief. At one time Larry was Acting Fire Chief for the Town of Phillipston and was Firefighter of the Year in 2008. Larry was recently voted the Town of Phillipston's 2012 Citizen of the Year.
Larry was a volunteer instructor for Massachustts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Hunter Education instructor since 1999. He attended Senior Lunch and Activities with the Town of Phillipston. An avid outdoorsman, he loved fishing at the Quabbin and Lake Ontario, hunting and gardening, often giving away his produce to CAC, church and friends. He loved his nieces and nephews, playing games with them, helping them with gardening, growing giant pumpkins. He enjoyed visiting and helping anyone, treasured his friends and family, enjoyed traveling to Disney with “the kids” (his nieces and nephews). He loved his hunting dogs and was proud of his kids accomplishments.
He leaves his wife of 37 ¾ years, M. Jane (Lehoux) French; his brothers, Rick French and his wife Ruth of Phillipston and Tom French and his wife Tina of Farmington, NM, brother-in-law, Paul Lehoux and his wife Ann of Gardner; nieces, nephews and spouses, Sue and Dale Rader, Amy and Bill Rathburn, Curt and Bobbie French, Cathy and Eric Olson, Julie and Ken Meehan, Allison Lehoux, Tom and Kelly French and Michele Houle; grandnieces and nephews, Hayley, Jacob and Matthew Rader, Zachary French, Evelyn, Cassandra and Alexander Olson, Timothy Houle and Hanna and Cameron Rathburn.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 6th at 10 A.M. in Phillipston Congregational Church Phillipston Common with the Rev. Stephanie Flynn officiating. Burial will follow in Lower Cemetery.
Calling hours in Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon are Wednesday, December 5th from 5 to 8 P.M.
Memorial donations may be made to Phillipston Congregational Church Handicapped Fund c’o Laureen Moran, Phillipston Common, Phillipston, MA. 01331 or mat be made to American Cancer Society, 20 Speen Street, Framinghgam, MA. 01701.
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