Robert E. “Bob” French of Irrigon went to be with the Lord on May 20, 2024 at the age of 85.
He was born on Aug. 5, 1938 in Peterson, Iowa to Ralph and Lucille Miner French.
Bob grew up and attended schools in Iowa, worked on farms, set pins by hand in a bowling alley, was a grocery carry-out boy and lived above the jailhouse. He served as an X-ray technician in the U.S. Army for three years and was stationed in Korea for part of that time. After his honorable discharge, he continued working as an X-ray technician for a time. He then took a job as a quality assurance technician at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard where he worked for over 30 years and retired.
Bob lived in Port Orchard, Wash. for many years, where he raised his family. He moved to Eastern Oregon in 1994 and had resided in the communities of Umatilla and Irrigon since that time.
Bob enjoyed listening to southern gospel music, many hours of studying different versions of the Bible, driving Sunday school bus, sunset photography, working on computers and electronics, and time with his grandchildren – also roller skating, where he met and tripped his future wife.
Bob came home on leave for Christmas to marry Judith Peterson on Dec. 26, 1956 in St. Joseph, Mo.
He will be greatly missed by his family: wife of 67 years, Judith; daughters, Valerie (Mike) Hopkins and Lori White; son, Robin (Janelle) French; five grandchildren, Elise, Rachael, Leah, Ryan and Zachary; six great-grandchildren; sister, Shirley McManus; and several extended family members.
A private family interment will be held in the Desert Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Irrigon.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
