Thomas Joseph French

WATERVILLE -- Thomas J. French, 89, passed into the eternal glory of God on May 16 at Inland Hospital after a brief illness.

"Buster," as he was affectionately known to his family, was born Aug. 8, 1919, in Skowhegan to Thomas Cowan and Eunice Myrtle (Pollard) French, the eldest of six children. He attended school in Waterville and Erskine Academy in South China. He served honorably in the Army from 1942 to 1946, with much of his wartime service spent in Paris. He was especially proud of having trained as a surgical technician at William Beaumont hospital in El Paso, Texas. He subsequently graduated from The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Mass.

In 1937 his family purchased the farm in South China that would become well known and loved as French's Market Gardens. Tom loved farming and spent long hours in the fields, hoeing and weeding by hand, or in the greenhouse, patiently transplanting hundreds of tiny seedlings. He felt God's presence in these quiet times, nurturing the land he loved.

During the winter he would teach piano to students of all ages, traveling to their homes, and later, teaching at the farm. One of his favorite students, Annabeth Packard, became his wife on Oct. 3, 1992. He loved good music and liked to attend concerts at Colby, especially if his wife was participating!

His hobby was oil painting, and his many works hung in the vegetable stand at the farm. He was a fan of artist Bill Alexander, whose one-week seminars in Canada he twice attended. Another joy was ski trips to Sugarloaf in his Volkswagen van with family members. At the time of his death, he was a member of American Legion Boynton-Webber Post 179 in South China.

A devout Roman Catholic, he was active in the Blue Army of Our Lady and took many pilgrimages to holy places around the world with members of his family. He was a communicant of St. Bridget's in North Vassalboro, and he served as organist there for the 8:30 a.m. Sunday Mass for 35 years.

For the last 11 months, Tom was a resident in the Moonlight Bay unit of Lakewood Continuing Care Center in Waterville. His family wishes to acknowledge the exceptional care the staff there provided for him.

Along with his parents, Thomas was predeceased by two brothers, Edward "Jim" W. French and Francis F. French; Francis' wife, Iona; and one sister, Eunice (Mrs. Odilon "Pete" Bernier).

Thomas is survived by his wife; two sisters, Charlotte (Mrs. Paul Page) of South China, and Mary (Mrs. Philip Wentzel) of Vassalboro; along with several nieces and nephews and their families. Special friends include David Dulac and his sister, Rita Blaisdell, who shared many delicious holiday dinners at the farm; and Charley and Diane Place of Marlboro, Mass.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday May 20, 2009, at St. Bridget's Catholic Church in North Vassalboro. Interrment will follow immediately at Chadwick Hill Cemetery in South China. In lieu of flowers, friends and family are encouraged to make a donation in Tom's memory to the charitable organization of their choice. Arrangements are under the care of Redington Funeral Home, 5 Park St., Waterville, ME.