Rudolph R. French

A funeral service celebrating the life of Rudy French, 67, of Newark, formerly of Granville, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday at McPEEK-HOEKSTRA FUNERAL HOME, 133 S. Prospect Street in Granville with Pastor Tom Myers officiating. A private graveside service will be held in Maple Grove Cemetery in Granville.

Rudy died Sunday, April 12, 2009, at home with his family at his side. He was born October 6, 1941 in Abington, Pennsylvania to the late Raymond E. French and Marguerite (Nickerson) French of Granville.

A 1959 graduate of Granville High School, Rudy was an avid sportsman who was named All Ohio in basketball and track. He was later inducted into the Granville High School Hall of Fame and always enjoyed attending his class reunions. If asked about his sports ability, he would simply reply to his family that he was "the greatest of all time". Being an avid sports fan, he enjoyed Buckeye and Bengals football. He was also an avid golfer.

A devoted grandpa, Rudy will be fondly remembered as a loving husband, father, son, brother, friend, and coach. He served in the U.S. Air Force and was employed 41 years at Sears in the automotive and lawn care departments.

In addition to his mother, surviving are his wife, Jan (Angus) French; daughter and son-in-law, Amy and Dan Dagois of Alexandria; son and daughter-in-law, Chad and Renae French of Heath; step-son and his spouse, Mark and Nancy Cobun of Granville; step-daughters and husband, Anna and Brian Meredith of Marysville, and Debbie Cobun of Newark; grandchildren, Makenna and Lexi French, Madison, Katie, and Noah Dagois; step-grandchildren, Aubree, Lindsay, and Christian Meredith; brother and sister-in-law, Randy and Jan French of Granville; and niece, Abbie French of Granville.

The family will receive friends Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.mcpeekhoekstra.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Central Ohio, 2269 Cherry Valley Rd., Newark, Ohio 43055.