Larry Lee French

Larry French was born to Vernon and Martha Lou French in Molene, IL, on November 5, 1939. He left this mortal life to be with His Savior November 28, 2019, at the age of 80.

He married his wife, Lillian, of 59 and a half years, on May 14, 1960.

Larry had an amazing and wonderful life. He began his adult working life as a production project manager with Baker Industrial Trucks. He also worked with Reliance Electric as a safety inspector manager. He then became a general contractor in construction. Then one day, at 42-years-old, he came home and told Lillian, “I joined the Navy.” He retired from the Navy after twenty years as a Chief Petty Officer. Larry was very proud of his service for our country. Upon completing his military service, Larry spent the last years of his life as a missionary builder, helping churches with building projects, saving them thousands of dollars of the Lord’s money that could then be spent on reaching a lost world for Christ. Larry finally “retired” in 2017, but never really quit working.

Larry was a member of Southwest Baptist Church, and we dearly loved him and appreciated all that he did here. Larry enjoyed golfing, fishing, and was an avid reader. But I think that surely his favorite hobby was working and being a blessing to others. Upon being led of the Lord into missionary building, Larry adopted as his life verse Isa. 6:8 – “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

He is survived by his wife, Lillian. He will also be missed by his sons, Mark French and wife, Cheryl, of Florida, and Mike French and wife, Karen, of Keifer. He also leaves behind his two brothers: Gene and wife, Sherrie, and Craig and wife, Linda. He had 5 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.