LaVern ‘Bud’ French, 82

Born: June 19, 1930

Died: Feb. 11, 2013

LaVern “Bud” French, 82, formerly of Sister Lakes, passed away

Monday evening, Feb. 11, in McAllen, Texas.

Funeral services celebrating his life were held Monday, Feb. 18, at 11 a.m. at the Davidson Chapel of Florin Funeral Service, 249 E. Center St., Coloma, with Pastor Whitney Brown officiating.

Burial followed at the Coloma Cemetery. Visitation was Sunday, 2 until 5 and 6 until 8 p.m., at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to either the American Heart Association or to the Galesburg Congregational United Church of Christ. Messages of condolence may be sent to www.florin.net.

Bud was born June 19, 1930, near Richland. He was one of five sons born to Bert and Marion French.

Bud proudly served his country during the Korean Conflict.

He later attended Western Michigan University to obtain his

aviation degree. He met his wife, Ruth Ann Urban, at WMU. They married on June 16, 1956, and together they had four daughters. Bud worked at the Whirlpool Corp. as an aircraft mechanic and pilot and later for the Sundstrand Corp. in both Dowagiac and Rockford, Ill.

He retired in 1990 after setting up flight operations for Columbia Pictures in Burbank, Calif. Bud served as president of the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA) and also served as membership chair while that organization was growing. After retirement, Bud and his wife traveled to the “many places he had seen from the air,” including an entire summer driving Canada and Alaska.

Additionally, he enjoyed ice fishing, visiting historical places and “talking with people wherever he went.”

Most of all, Bud cherished time spent with his wife and family.

Bud is survived by: his wife, Ruth Ann; daughters, Loranne (Jim) Shields of Chicago, Nancy (Dan) Ely of Commerce Township, Mich., Eileen (Mike) Shields of Dowagiac and Karen (Arnie Jr.) Garritano of Maineville, Ohio; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Bud was preceded in death by his brothers, Richard, Maurice, Lawrence and Robert French.