Author Topic: Looking for an obituary: Harry George French  (Read 4325 times)

Online Erato

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Looking for an obituary: Harry George French
« on: Monday 04 May 15 02:20 BST (UK) »
Patrick William French died in Bethesda, Maryland in 2012.  An extensive obituary was published in the Washington Times:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtontimes/obituary.aspx?pid=159316667

It says, "Born in Paris, France in 1947, Mr. French was the son of American diplomat Harry George French. His growing-up years were spent abroad, living in France, South Africa, Australia, Turkey, Ireland, and Switzerland."

I am looking for an obituary for the father, Harry George French.  Presumably a diplomat, even a minor one, would get some mention in the press but I haven't found anything yet.  He may have died in Japan.  An interview with another diplomat says, "We had an Admin Counselor named Harry George French.  Mr. French drank at least a quart of scotch a day, and wouldn’t wear his hearing aids.  Later the Department assigned him to Tokyo to be GSO and he dropped dead a week after his arrival in Japan."

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/mss/mfdip/2007%20txt%20files/2007hel01.txt

I suspect that this Harry George French is mine, born 7 May 1918 in Kenosha Wisconsin and died in July 1977 [SSDI] but I need an obituary to confirm his birth details.
Wiltshire:  Banks, Taylor
Somerset:  Duddridge, Richards, Barnard, Pillinger
Gloucestershire:  Barnard, Marsh, Crossman
Bristol:  Banks, Duddridge, Barnard
Down:  Ennis, McGee
Wicklow:  Chapman, Pepper
Wigtownshire:  Logan, Conning
Wisconsin:  Ennis, Chapman, Logan, Ware
Maine:  Ware, Mitchell, Tarr, Davis

Offline Lisa in California

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Re: Looking for an obituary: Harry George French
« Reply #1 on: Monday 04 May 15 04:00 BST (UK) »
Not much help, but there is a record in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Harry French, born 7 May 1918.  Died 22 July 1977.
He enlisted (enlistment date 1) 5 January 1945 and the release date (release date 1) was 12 October 1946.

Will continue to have a look around.
Ellison: Co. Wicklow/Canada       Fowley: Sligo/Canada       Furnival: Lancashire/Canada       Ibbotson: Sheffield/Canada       Lee/DeJongh: Lancashire & Cheshire       Mumford: Essex/Canada       Ovens: Ireland/Canada       Sarge: Yorkshire/Canada             Stuart: Sligo/Canada       Sullivan: Co. Clare/Canada      Vaus: Sussex/Surrey      Wakefield: Tuam or Ballinasloe, Ireland              (Surname: Originated/Place Last Lived)  (Canadians lived in Ontario)

Offline Lisa in California

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Re: Looking for an obituary: Harry George French
« Reply #2 on: Monday 04 May 15 04:06 BST (UK) »
WWII Army Enlistment Record
Harry G French, born 1918, white, nativity state: Wisconsin, state of residence: Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Enlistment date and Place:  3 January 1945, Baltimore, Maryland.
Grade:  Private
One year of college; civil occupation: Clerk, general office
Single, without dependents
Ellison: Co. Wicklow/Canada       Fowley: Sligo/Canada       Furnival: Lancashire/Canada       Ibbotson: Sheffield/Canada       Lee/DeJongh: Lancashire & Cheshire       Mumford: Essex/Canada       Ovens: Ireland/Canada       Sarge: Yorkshire/Canada             Stuart: Sligo/Canada       Sullivan: Co. Clare/Canada      Vaus: Sussex/Surrey      Wakefield: Tuam or Ballinasloe, Ireland              (Surname: Originated/Place Last Lived)  (Canadians lived in Ontario)

Online Erato

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Re: Looking for an obituary: Harry George French
« Reply #3 on: Monday 04 May 15 04:06 BST (UK) »
Thanks, Lisa.  That's the guy I'm after.  I had found that record.
Wiltshire:  Banks, Taylor
Somerset:  Duddridge, Richards, Barnard, Pillinger
Gloucestershire:  Barnard, Marsh, Crossman
Bristol:  Banks, Duddridge, Barnard
Down:  Ennis, McGee
Wicklow:  Chapman, Pepper
Wigtownshire:  Logan, Conning
Wisconsin:  Ennis, Chapman, Logan, Ware
Maine:  Ware, Mitchell, Tarr, Davis


Offline Lisa in California

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Re: Looking for an obituary: Harry George French
« Reply #4 on: Monday 04 May 15 04:25 BST (UK) »
You're welcome.

There is an online "book" Foreign Service List, January 1, 1952
Australia, Harry G. French, admin, officer
   Perhaps your man?

Foreign Service List, January 1, 1950
Vienna, Austria
Harry G. French, vice consul

Foreign Service List, October 1, 1949
Capetown
Harry G. French, vice consul

So far, no obit.
Ellison: Co. Wicklow/Canada       Fowley: Sligo/Canada       Furnival: Lancashire/Canada       Ibbotson: Sheffield/Canada       Lee/DeJongh: Lancashire & Cheshire       Mumford: Essex/Canada       Ovens: Ireland/Canada       Sarge: Yorkshire/Canada             Stuart: Sligo/Canada       Sullivan: Co. Clare/Canada      Vaus: Sussex/Surrey      Wakefield: Tuam or Ballinasloe, Ireland              (Surname: Originated/Place Last Lived)  (Canadians lived in Ontario)

Offline Lisa in California

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Re: Looking for an obituary: Harry George French
« Reply #5 on: Monday 04 May 15 04:30 BST (UK) »
Do you have all of the articles about Mr. French?  There is one in 1956 about Mrs. French mentioning drawbacks of living in foreign countries.  (I'm hoping to eventually find "key words" that I can use to locate an obituary.)
Ellison: Co. Wicklow/Canada       Fowley: Sligo/Canada       Furnival: Lancashire/Canada       Ibbotson: Sheffield/Canada       Lee/DeJongh: Lancashire & Cheshire       Mumford: Essex/Canada       Ovens: Ireland/Canada       Sarge: Yorkshire/Canada             Stuart: Sligo/Canada       Sullivan: Co. Clare/Canada      Vaus: Sussex/Surrey      Wakefield: Tuam or Ballinasloe, Ireland              (Surname: Originated/Place Last Lived)  (Canadians lived in Ontario)

Online Erato

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Re: Looking for an obituary: Harry George French
« Reply #6 on: Monday 04 May 15 04:34 BST (UK) »
No I haven't seen that article.  Was her name Dorothy?
Wiltshire:  Banks, Taylor
Somerset:  Duddridge, Richards, Barnard, Pillinger
Gloucestershire:  Barnard, Marsh, Crossman
Bristol:  Banks, Duddridge, Barnard
Down:  Ennis, McGee
Wicklow:  Chapman, Pepper
Wigtownshire:  Logan, Conning
Wisconsin:  Ennis, Chapman, Logan, Ware
Maine:  Ware, Mitchell, Tarr, Davis

Offline Lisa in California

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Re: Looking for an obituary: Harry George French
« Reply #7 on: Monday 04 May 15 04:41 BST (UK) »
Just Mrs. Harry G. French.
There isn't a link to give you but I found it by doing an internet search for - "Harry French" vice consul - name of the article is "Servants are not always a pleasure".
Ellison: Co. Wicklow/Canada       Fowley: Sligo/Canada       Furnival: Lancashire/Canada       Ibbotson: Sheffield/Canada       Lee/DeJongh: Lancashire & Cheshire       Mumford: Essex/Canada       Ovens: Ireland/Canada       Sarge: Yorkshire/Canada             Stuart: Sligo/Canada       Sullivan: Co. Clare/Canada      Vaus: Sussex/Surrey      Wakefield: Tuam or Ballinasloe, Ireland              (Surname: Originated/Place Last Lived)  (Canadians lived in Ontario)

Offline majm

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Re: Looking for an obituary: Harry George French
« Reply #8 on: Monday 04 May 15 04:43 BST (UK) »
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/59499733 Sunday Times 4 Dec 1949

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