Cornelius T. French Jr.

Cornelius T. French Jr., "Neil," "The Chef," of Langhorne, died on Dec. 13, 2015 at his daughter's residence in Langhorne following a lengthy illness. He was 91.

Neil was born in Dunmore on May 9, 1924, to the late Cornelius T. Sr. and Helen Carney French. Neil married Catherine Battle French, of Scranton, in 1948.

He is survived by his four children, Connie French Rinker, with whom he resided; Neil French III (Margie), Helen French Irwin (William) and Catherine French Bowen (William). Neil is survived by four grandchildren, Neil French IV (Jennifer), Kevin French (Melissa), Erin-Caitlin Rinker and Megan French Gancarz (Christopher); and three great-granddaughters, Julia French, Addison French and Charlie French. Neil is also survived by his sister, Catherine French Edwards; and several nieces and nephews.

Neil was a proud WW II Army Veteran. He was a member of the infamous 4th Armored 37th Tank Battalion C Company. He was the gunner in the "Casey Jones," the second tank to enter Bastogne in the Battle of the Bulge. Neil fought in four of the five major campaigns in Europe, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. Under his commander, Lt. Creighton Abrams, Neil served in Patton's Third Army from Feb. 1, 1944 until Dec. 31, 1945. He was awarded two Purple Hearts, a Good Conduct Medal, a European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four Bronze Stars and a World War II Victory Medal. Neil has had many opportunities to share his knowledge and help preserve history, including documenting his experiences with the U.S. Army Historian.

During the past year, Neil has enjoyed traveling to military affairs, where his service has been recognized with awards that include the Order of St. George Bronze Medal, the Forging the Future Award and a lifetime membership in the United States Army Brotherhood of Tankers. Neil was an active member of both the New York Chapter of the 4th Armored Division and the Guardians of Washington Crossing National Cemetery.

For 39 years, after training with James Beard, Neil worked as an Executive French Chef, retiring in 1981 from Helen and Charles Wilson's L'Auberge in Strafford. For the next 30 years, Neil worked with his son at the Locker Room Sporting Goods in Levittown.

His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, Dec. 18, 2015, at 9 a.m. in Our Lady of Grace Church, 225 Bellevue Ave., Penndel. Interment will follow at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, Newtown. There are no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, contribute to the charitable organization of your choice or to one of Neil's: WCNC Wreaths Across America Fund, 830 Highland Road, Newtown, PA 18940, Best Friends Animal Shelter, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, Utah 84741 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.org/give/memorials-and-dedications.html.