Lt. Col. Usaf, Ret. William Gerald French

William Gerald French, Lt. Col. USAF, Ret. May 2, 1924 – October 15, 2006 William Gerald “Bill” French, Jr., 82 of McGregor, passed away Sunday, October 15, 2006 at his home. Services will be at Western Heights Baptist Church at 11:00 am Thursday, October 19 with Dr. Charles Dixon officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Waco Memorial North Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8:00 pm Wednesday, October 18 at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. Bill was born May 2, 1924 in Anniston, Alabama to William Gerald French, Sr. and Lela Creen French. Bill graduated from Anniston High School in 1941 and attended college at Auburn University where he was commissioned in the Army Air Force at 19 years of age. He had a successful 29 year career serving our country honorably in the Air Force. During that time he received a BS from University of Chicago, a BS from Auburn University, an MS from Florida State University and numerous other degrees. After retiring from the service in 1972, he began a career in education teaching Science for around 13 years. Bill moved to McGregor in 1990 and has been an active member of Western Heights Baptist Church. Bill was a faithful servant to our country, his church and his family. He will be remembered for his kind, gentle spirit and warm, friendly smile. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, W. G. and Lela French. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary French of McGregor; sons, William Gerald French of McGregor and Thomas Gregory French of Leroy, TX; daughters, Christine E. French of Woodway and Nancy Hughes of Harlingen, TX; brother, Thomas C. French of Huntsville, AL; sisters, Dorothy Mullins of Birmingham, AL and Peggy Burleson of Anniston, AL; eight grandchildren, three great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to Western Heights Baptist Church or Billy Graham Ministries. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey