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Charles R. French Jr.

Charles R. French Jr., 79, of North Manchester, IN, and having ties to Huntington County, IN, died Tuesday, April 26, 2016, at 8:04 a.m. at Peabody Healthcare Center, North Manchester.

Mr. French graduated from Laketon High School in 1954. He attended Manchester College and graduated from Garrett Seminary, in Evanston, IL, as a deacon. He worked for Peabody Seating, North Manchester, for seven years and Eaton Controls for 28 years in various managerial positions. He retired in 1997.

He was a United Methodist pastor for 23 years, serving at Salem United Methodist Church, in Huntington County, as well as at Paw Paw United Methodist, in Miami County; Jalapa United Methodist, in Grant County; and South Pleasant United Methodist and Ijamsville United Methodist, both in Wabash County.

He was a member of the North Manchester Rotary Club, an engineering society and North Manchester United Methodist Church, in North Manchester.

He was born Aug. 13, 1936, in Tipton County to Charles Sr. and Clara Atkission French. He married Cathy Kuhn on April 4, 1981, and she survives.

Additional survivors include six sons, John (Linda) French, Tom (Janet) French and Kevin (Anita) Henderson, all of North Manchester; Mike (Marcy) French, of Angola; Eric (Colleen) French, of South Whitley; and Kurt (Rhonda) Henderson, of Roann; five daughters, Rebecca (Eldon) Cook and JoEtta (Keith) Herrman, both of North Manchester; Susan (Jerry) Graybeal, of Johnson City, TN; Christine (Gary) Vanlandingham, of Hartford, MI; and Teresa (Ray) Allison, of Goshen; two brothers, Kent (Judy) French, of Silver Lake, and Bennie (Debra) French, of Claypool; two sisters, Nancy (Bill) Bell, of Wabash, and Penny (Joe) Deal, of North Manchester; 35 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren.

A service was held on Friday, April 29, 2016, at the North Manchester United Methodist Church, in North Manchester, with Rev. Mark Eastway, Rev. Larry Ray and Rev. David Mills officiating. Burial was at Oaklawn Cemetery, North Manchester.

Memorial gifts may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation, 200 S.E. 1st St., Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131 or the North Manchester United Methodist Church, 304 E. Second St., North Manchester, IN 46962.

McKee Mortuary, North Manchester, was in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be made at www.mckeemortuary.com.