Ronald Clark "Ronny" French, Sr., 82, died on Saturday, October 22, 2016, at Magnolia Manor on St. Simons Island, Georgia. He was born November 28, 1933 in Columbus, Georgia to the late Horace Brenton (H. B.) French and Odelle Sellers French.

Ronny is preceded in death by both his parents, his wife, Mary Parker French (deceased July 2015); three brothers, Theo Gerald French, Sr., Wayne M. French, David French; and his sister, Sheila Yvonne French.

Survivors include his two sons, Ronald "Chuck" Clark French, Jr., his wife Kathy, of Acworth, Georgia and Russell Parker French, his wife Dawn, of Leesburg, Georgia; one daughter, Ronda Odelle French Hansen, her husband William, of St. Simons Island, Georgia; seven grandchildren, Parker (Kim) French, Laura Little Gilbert, Jonathan French, Doug (Celia) Little, Kristen Hansen (Harrison) Merrill, Brenton French, Austin French; and eight great-grandchildren.

Ronny entered the United States Navy at the age of 17 and served for the next 38 months. While serving the Navy, he received three special honors, the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with 1 Star, United Nations Service Medal.

After being discharged from the Navy, Ronny returned to Stewart County and worked with Georgia Kraft and ran French's Machine Shop with his dad. Then he began a long career at Fort Benning as a machinist and welder. In 1999 he retired from Fort Benning. Ronny and Mary moved to St. Simons Island in 2005 to live near the beach. They enjoyed this time, but both missed Lumpkin very much. After Mary passed, Ronny considered returning to Lumpkin to live, but just never made it.

Mary and Ronny enjoyed retirement with traveling, especially cruise ships and loved being near their grandchildren. In honor of their grandfather, his grandchildren are the pall bearers for this service today.

Ronny was a member of the Lumpkin United Methodist Church until after their move to St. Simons Island. They transferred their membership to the St. Simons United Methodist Church.

A Visitation Service with family and friends will be held on Friday evening, October 28, 2016, from 5:00 - 6:00 PM, at Baldwin Funeral Home in Richland, Georgia.

The Graveside Service will be held on Saturday morning, October 29, 2016, at 11:00 AM, at Northside Cemetery in Lumpkin, Georgia. The Reverend Dan Smith will conduct the service.

The family requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to: Lumpkin United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 394, Richland, GA 31825

Visit the online guest book on the Baldwin Funeral Home web site at www.baldwinfuneralhome.com. Baldwin Funeral Home, 50 Overby Dr., Richland, GA 31825, was in charge of all arrangements. 229-887-2750, 229-887-2753 fax, baldwinfuneral@att.net