Ed French, farmer, electrician and preacher, died Thursday, June 16, 2016, at his rural Silver Lake home. He was 83.

He was born William Edward French Oct.7, 1932, in Kokomo, to Charles and Mamie French. He graduated from Laketon High School, where he met Elizabeth Vaudene Railsback. Smitten with the redhead, he borrowed his brother’s suit and set off in a snowstorm to marry her on Christmas Eve, 1950. The two were seldom apart over the next 65 years. She loved to cook and he loved to eat, and they both enjoyed watching basketball games and sitting on their front porch looking out over their beloved lake. She died Feb. 12, 2016. While his cause of death has not been determined, those close to him know he died of a broken heart.

He was a farmer and owner of French Electric. He started a third career when most were retiring, becoming a minister at Liberty Mills United Methodist Church and, until his death, at West Eel River Church.

He was preceded in death by wife: Vaudene French; brothers: Roy (Clara); Woodrow (Helen); and Richard (Donna) French; and sister: Lauretta (Bill) Evans. He is survived by sons: Gary French, Fort Wayne; and Ron (Valerie) French, Okemos, Mich.; daughter: Kathy Judy, Peru; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 21, at South Pleasant United Methodist Church, North Manchester, followed by a funeral service at the church at 11 a.m. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hartzler Funeral Home, Akron.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society.