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Rita French Obituary

RITA FRENCH

SPENCERVILLE — Rita R. French, 89, of rural Delphos, passed away peacefully in the Lima Memorial Health System at 6:17 PM Tuesday, April 11, 2017 . She was a resident of the Roselawn Manor in Spencerville.

She was born August 21, 1927 in Delphos, a daughter of Lewis A. and Ruth V. Stepleton Etgen, who are deceased. On September 16, 1944 she married Willie Boyd "Bill" French, who died February 2, 1998.

Surviving are 3 children; William B. (Luella) French of Spencerville; Robert L. (Myra) French of rural Cridersville and Donald P. (Angela Burgei) French of rural Delphos; two step-sons; Clifford French of Georgia and Jerry French of Florida; her son-in-law; William "Bill" Grigsby of Spencerville; 13 grand; 22 great grand children and one great great granddaughter; four siblings; Mary (Charles) Flanagan of Delphos; Lewis (Barbara) Etgen of Elida; Oscar (Martha) Etgen of Huntsville and Ralph (Joyce) Etgen of Elida.

Rita was preceded in death by her daughter; Marjorie M. Grigsby and three siblings; infant Anthony Etgen; Elizabeth "Betty" Elsea, her brother-in-law Ralph Elsea and Leo (Glenna) Etgen.

She was a 1944 graduate of Shawnee High School and retired in 1982 as a press operator at Good Year Tire and Rubber Company in St. Marys.

She was a member of the Van Wert / Delphos Eagles Auxiliary; a life member of Bowersock Bros. VFW Auxiliary in Spencerville; the DAV Auxiliary in Lima and the Lima Senior Citizens.

Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Saturday in the Thomas E. Bayliff Funeral Home in Spencerville with Rev. Andrew J. Atkins officiating. Burial will follow in the Hartford Cemetery, Northeast of Spencerville.

The family will receive friends from 2/4 and 6/8 PM Friday at the funeral home, where the VFW Auxiliary will conduct a memorial service at 8 PM Friday.

Memorial contributions may be made to the donors choice. Condolences may be sent to [email protected]

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Lima News from Apr. 12 to Apr. 13, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Rita French

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5 Entries

April 14, 2017

Our sympathies to the family of Rita French. She was a kind and caring woman; we have many childhood memories of Frenchie and Rita with our parents, Bill and Ruth Neeper.

Blessings to you all,

The children of Ruth and Bill Neeper

Pam Smith

April 14, 2017

Dave and I send our sincere sympathy to your family on the loss of your mother Rita. I loved spending time with her when we did crafts at Roselawn. Hugs to all. Pam and Dave Smith

April 13, 2017

Prayers and condolences to your families...Lucille Leaser Bowen ...Port St Lucie FL

April 13, 2017

Please know you all are in our thoughts and prayers. We love you all!

Terri (Etgen) Gill and family

KELLEY

April 13, 2017

MAY THE THOUGHT OF KNOWING THAT FAMILY AND FRIENDS SHARE IN YOUR GRIEF BRING YOUR FAMILY A MEASURE OF COMFORT.PLEASE READ PROV.17:17

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To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

Funeral services provided by:

Thomas E. Bayliff Funeral Home - Spencerville

728 E. Fourth Street State Route 117 East, Spencerville, OH 45887

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