George A. French

Rensselaer- George A. French, 71, passed away on Tuesday, August 14, 2007, at Samaritan Hospital in Troy. Born in Kingston he was the son of the late Water H. and Alberta French. George married his beloved wife of almost 52 years, Barbara Lambe French on August 20, 1955. He served in the United States Navy from 1953 – 1961. George was a forty-four year employee of New York Telephone Company and an avid outdoorsman, camping enthusiast, hunter, fisherman, and firearms safety instructor. He was an Endowment Member of the National Rifle Association, a Life Member of the NYS Conservation Council, Inc., the NYS Rifle and Pistol Association, Inc., and the Brunswick Sportsman's Club. He was a Member of the Bailey Mountain Fish and Game Club, Past Member of the DeFreestville Fire Department, Contributing Member of the Association of the Bell Tel Retirees, Inc., Retired Member of the Communications Workers of America, a Member of the American Legion, Melvin Roads Post 1231 and an active member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church. George was also a NYS Certified Hunter Education Instructor, a National Rifle Association Certified Firearm Safety, Pistol, Rifle, and Shotgun Instructor and the Recipient of the1981 Rensselaer County Conservation Alliance "Conservationist Award".
Including his beloved wife Barbara, George is survived by his sons; Richard A. (Kathleen) French and Robert (Toni) French, his daughters; Catherine (Robert) Kilpatrick, Judith (John) Zimmerman and Suzanne (Daniel) Aardema, his ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Theodore K. (Gale) French, his sisters; Elizabeth Coleman and Carol Saltzman and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 10:00 AM at Our Savior's Lutheran Church59 Mountainview Ave., Colonie. Calling hours will be held on Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at New Comer-Cannon Family Funeral Home, 343 New Karner Rd., Colonie (Rt. 155-south of Central Ave.). Interment will be in the New Rural Cemetery, Rensselaer. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Our Savior's Lutheran Church School, 59 Mountainview Ave., Albany, NY 12205 in memory of George A. French. To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.newcomerfamily.com.