| Lieutenant Colonel Harry L. "Larry"
French ( U.S.A.F., Retired) Larry French died Wednesday, March 1, 2006. Born in Indianapolis, IN, on April 25, 1933, he resided in Birmingham 34 years. Larry worked as an independent insurance agent with The Insurance Network in Pelham. Earlier he was an Air Force test pilot with Hayes Aircraft at Birmingham International Airport. Larry spent 20 years in the U.S.A.F. where he flew KC-97s and KC-135s for the Strategic Air Command. He flew the C-7A Caribou with the 457th Tactical Airlift Squadron during his 1968-69 tour in Vietnam. A loyal member of the Birmingham Civitan Club, Larry served two terms as president and held additional offices. He was an early and avid UAB basketball fan, holding season tickets from the team's beginning. In the late 1970s he enjoyed being the "Voice of the Mounties," calling Shades Valley H.S. football games. He sang in the St. Peter's Folk Choir tenor section, affectionately known as the "snowy peaks." Larry was above all a loving and funny husband, father and friend. His survivors include Barbara Coonrad French, his wife of 47 years, his children Jennifer French Echols of Atlanta, Amy (Michael) Whitmore of Scituate, MA, Matt (Jennifer) French of Pascagoula, MS, Molly French of Denver, CO, and Tony (Ai) French of Bangkok, Thailand; and his brother, Richard (Carol) French of Wellfleet, MA; his sister Barbara (Paul) Brown of Richardson, TX; his niece, nephews, cousins and their families.. He was proud to be Grandpa and Pop Pop to Jordan and Jackson Echols; Angus, Lawrie and Eamon Whitmore; Marianna and Will Major French; and Iris French. His memorial service was held Saturday, March 4, at 11 a.m. at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Hoover. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions go to Civitan International Research Center c/o Civitan International, P.O. Box 130744, Birmingham, AL 35213-0744 or your favorite charity. Published in The Birmingham News on 3/3/2006. |