Educator.
Born at Govan, Saskatchewan in 1911, son of John Henry French (1879-?) and Telida Laknas (1890-?), he earned an Education Diploma from the University of Saskatchewan, along with BA (Economics) and BEd (1947) degrees from the University of Manitoba. At the age of 27, he was the Principal of Swan River School (1938-1940). During the Second World War, he was employed by the federal Inspections Branch, writing manuals and developing technical specifications. He later worked 20 years in Ottawa, Ontario with the Armament Branch of the Department of Defence Production, serving as Manager of Production. In 1948, he married Mary Catherine Dorothy Elizabeth Murphy (1919-1991) and the couple, with their daughter and son, moved from Winnipeg to Ottawa in 1953. They returned to Manitoba in 1973. He returned to Saskatchewan following his wife’s death, residing at Govan and Regina. He died at Regina on 12 February 2008.
1911 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.
“University observes 70th anniversary [Bachelor of Education],” Winnipeg Free Press, 15 May 1947, page 3.
Birth notice [French], Winnipeg Free Press, 19 August 1949, page 22.
Birth notice [French], Winnipeg Free Press, 26 July 1954, page 19.
Obituary [Mary Catherine Spooner “May” Murphy), Winnipeg Free Press, 25 August 1985, page 21.
Obituary [Dorothy Murphy French], Winnipeg Free Press, 29 May 1991, page 21.
Winnipeg Estate file PR91-01-22836, Mary Catherine Dorothy Elizabeth French, Archives of Manitoba.
Obituary, Regina Leader-Post, 16 February 2008.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 7 December 2016
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