Theodore Ted French

Theodore (Ted) Roberts French died May 27, 2015. He was the younger of twin sons born in Atlanta on August 22, 1930 to Edward Rogers French and Millicent Moore French. He attended Georgia Military Academy and graduated from Druid Hills High School where he played on one of the last 6 man football teams in Georgia. Ted was a proud Eagle Scout.

He graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Industrial Management, was a member of the ATO fraternity and was named a Distinguished Military Graduate.

He was married for almost 62 years to Helen McGowan of Jackson, Mississippi.

Ted served in US Army Infantry and was honorably discharged in 1955 as a 1st Lieutenant.

After his discharge from the service, he followed his late father into the automotive aftermarket, working first for Aaron and Bell Company, manufactures representatives, in Mississippi and Tennessee.

In 1960, he became a partner in Aaron, Bell and French, and in 1968, he founded French, Inc., an independent agency which represented the Monroe Automotive Equipment Company.

He served as president of AAR (Automotive Associated Representatives) and, upon retirement, was honored by being named a Life Member. Like his father before him, and his son after him, he served as president of the B6 chapter of the Automotive Booster Club.

A member of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church for 54 years, he served as Chairman of the Administrative Board, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Pre-School Committee and President of the Timothy Class.

He was President of the Uptown Kiwanis Club and, later, a member of the Buckhead Kiwanis Club.

As an early volunteer at the Buckhead Christian Ministry, he built the shelves for the first food pantry, helped to set up the first computer program at BCM and worked as a data entry volunteer.

He was a long time member of the Cherokee Club and enjoyed fishing and playing tennis at his home at Tate Mountain in north Georgia.

He was predeceased by his parents and his twin brother, Edward Rogers French, Jr. and is survived by his wife, Helen McGowan French, and five children: Theodore Roberts French Jr. (Stacy), Edward Rollins French (Tracey), Helen French Meyer (Bruce), Adele French Hamilton (Gordon) and Wesley Aaron French (Anne). He is also survived by thirteen grandchildren: Ashley Elizabeth French, David Edward French, Joseph McGowan French, Sara Ellen Hamilton, John Walter Meyer (Maggie), Mary Catherine Hamilton Brandon (Chris), Edward Theodore Meyer (Emily), Wesley Aaron French, Theodore Roberts French III, Helen French Meyer, Robert Lahuis French, Caroline Adele Hamilton, and Jane Davis French.

There will be a memorial service at 11 o'clock on Monday, June 1, at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, followed by a reception in Grace Hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family would be most grateful for donations to Outreach at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church or The Buckhead Christian Ministry.