Herrin- Louis Arthur French, Jr., 92, of Herrin, passed away at 4:35 AM, Monday, April 28, 2014 at The Villas of Holly Brook in Herrin.
Louis was born on January 7, 1922 in Memphis, TN to Louis A. and Louise “Neva” (Schultz) French. They resided in Eldorado for a short time before moving to West Frankfort.
Rather than being drafted, he joined the US Navy on April 1, 1941 and was sent to boot camp in San Diego, where he became an instructor of Morse code. He was reassigned to Pearl Harbor after Thanksgiving and was there during the infamous bombing and helped care for the wounded. He served on the USS Honolulu and was there on October 24, 1944 when Gen. Douglas McArthur came aboard to broadcast his famous “I Have Returned” speech. Louis was later transferred to Belleview, DC to serve as Fleet Liaison in development of scanning gunnery fire control radar.
It was during his service in Belleview, DC that he met and married Alpha Gene Cox of West Frankfort on May 12, 1945. They had forty good years together as she preceded him in death on November 8, 1984. He later married Velma Betty Heatherly of Herrin and they had twenty-four years together before she preceded him in death on September 15, 2009.
Upon honorably leaving the Navy, he moved to Herrin where he purchased, The Cragg Studio. He later renamed it French Studio, LTD. He was a third generation photographer and invented several modernizations and efficiencies for photography equipment. He was the school photographer for Herrin Unit#4 Schools and Herrin Junior Ball League. As wedding, portrait and school work grew, so did the demand for aerial photography. In 1968 he purchased a Cessna Skyhawk photo equipped aircraft (N8251L). Along with his son, Arthur, they photographed many factories and real estate locations and for thirteen years they photographed the Lock and Dam at Olmstead for the Corp of Engineers.
He was a member of the Herrin Chamber of Commerce and was an avid amateur radio operator, call sign W9PYL (Handle “Lou”). He was a charter member of the Shawnee Amateur Radio Assoc. He joined the SI Storm Watch Group and spent many hours watching the skies. He was appointed Communications Director of the Williamson Co. Civil Defense.
He enjoyed travelling with family across the United States, tending to his garden which included many exotic and wonderful plants and flying his airplane across the US on short trips or to meet with buddies from WWII.
He joined Herrin First Baptist Church in 1947 and sang in the church choir and in cantatas and with other choral groups, both gospel and barbershop. He also served as superintendent of junior Sunday school, later the intermediate department and then the Young Adults. He was ordained a deacon in 1949 and served until his retirement.
Survivors include his son, Arthur Gene French and wife Brenda of Herrin, daughter, Rebecca Eaton and husband Irl of Herrin. Four grandchildren, Michelle Tauber and husband William of Herrin, Hannah Smith and fiancé Cody King of Herrin, Daniel W. Eaton of Herrin and Jennifer Heard and husband Bradley of Herrin. Six great grandchildren, Abigail Tauber, Micaela Tauber, Rachel Tauber , Monica Tauber, Callie Heard and Jackson Heard, all of Herrin.
He was preceded in death by his parents and wives.
The funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at Johnson-Hughes Funeral Home in Herrin. Rev. Courtney Hill and Rev. Mark Hutson will officiate. Burial will follow at Egyptian Memorial Gardens in Herrin. Military rites will be performed at graveside by the Herrin VFW and American Legion Posts and the Illinois National Guard. Visitation will be from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM, Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at Johnson-Hughes Funeral Home in Herrin.
Memorial donations are suggested to Herrin First Baptist Church or VNA/TIP Hospice and will be accepted at Johnson-Hughes Funeral Home/ 201 S. 13th St/ Herrin, Illinois 62948. For more information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.hughesfuneralhomes.com.