Donald French

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Donald Brown French, 83, of Charleston died Sunday, March 22, 2020.

He was born July 4, 1936, in Asheville, North Carolina, to Oliver B. Sr. and Jennie Lane Brown French. On June 11, 1960, he married Anna Marie Duff, who survives of the home.

Moving to Charleston in 1942, he was a 1954 graduate of Charleston High School. He then received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. Following completion of a master's in accounting from Washington University in St. Louis, his National Guard unit of Festus Missouri, was mobilized into active service at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Returning to Charleston after his discharge, Donald was manager and co-owner with Jim French and Renee` DeKriek of the John Deere Equipment dealership, known as French Implement Co., until his retirement. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Charleston and the Charleston Country Club, where he was an avid golfer.

Also surviving are his children, Boyd and Kim French of Columbia, Mark and Jackie French of Webster Groves, Missouri, and Molly and Matthew Morrow of Charleston; grandchildren, Nathan French, Hampton French, Drew (Katy) French, Caroline French, Dawson French, Sam French, Lane Morrow, Maggie Morrow, Jack Brauer and Ford Brauer; brother, Dr. Frank (Virginia) French of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; and sisters-in-law, Pat Wheeler of Nixa, Missouri, and Rita Stuckey of Benton, Missouri.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Oliver French Jr. and Bob French.

Private funeral services will be conducted Wednesday.

Interment will follow in IOOF Cemetery, under the direction of McMikle Funeral Home of Charleston.

Memorial contributions may be made to Charleston Civic Project Inc., Rolwing Park Playground Equipment Fund, c/o Charleston City Hall, 204 N. Main St. (or place in drop box), Charleston, MO 63834; or United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 351, Charleston, MO 63834.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com.