Obituary of Earl Junior French

~~Earl Junior French, 85, of Westfield, IN passed away on August 26, 2017. Earl was born in Crawfordsville, IN on November 13, 1931 to the late Earl D. and Mary E. (Gooding) French. As a young man, Earl’s early employment was for the railroad swinging a hammer and driving spikes. Later, he went on to work for the Farm Bureau COOP as a Grain Elevator Manager at Whitesville Elevator in Whitesville, IN for most of his career; he then moved to the Main Office in Crawforsdville, IN up until retirement after 40+ years working for COOP. Earl proudly and bravely served our country and state in the US Army Reserves in Waveland, IN and for the  Indiana Army National Guard in Crawfordsville, IN retiring as a Sergeant First Class. Earl gave much of himself by helping others in the community and was a member of several fraternal, municipal and charitable organizations. He was a member of the Crawfordsville Jaycees, South Montgomery School Board and the Browns Valley Christian Church. He enjoyed playing golf, watching all kinds of sports and was an avid St. Louis Cardinal Fan. Earl like to play softball and his daughter Paula remembers him lovingly coaching one season. As a young man, Earl loved Square Dancing with his beloved wife of 63 years, Ethel Jeannine (Schmall) French, she preceding him in death on February 15, 2016. Earl’s greatest joy was traveling with Ethel to watch their daughter play sports through high school, college and summer softball. Earl loved to sing with his daughter to the Statler Brothers and the Oak Ridge Boys music. You always knew when “JR” was around because he was always whistling. Earl was a real people person, warm, loving and full of love.
Earl is survived by his daughter, Paula J. French; and partner, Joy D. Toney; sisters, Betty (Walter) McBee, Rosemary (Allen) Lyon and Linda (Arlie) Thompson. Earl is also preceded in death by one sister, Dorothy Stockdale and his beloved mother and father in-law, Wilbur J. and Virginia A. (Burnam) Schmall.  Graveside Services with military honors will be held at 2:00 PM on November 19, 2017 at Oak Hill Cemetery 392 Oak Hill Rd Crawfordsville, IN 47933. The family kindly ask that memorial contributions be made in Earl’s memory to Joy’s House Adult Day Service 2028 E Broad Ripple Ave INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46220 (317) 254-0828. To leave the family online condolences or to share a special story or memory about Earl, please visit www.stevensmortuary.net