Edith A. French, 94
SHEFFIELD, Mass. — Edith Augusta French, 94, of Sheffield died Monday, June 22, 2009, at home after suffering a stroke the evening of June 13.
Born in Ludlow on Aug. 1, 1914, oldest child of farmers William Newton and Carrie Longfellow Childs Wallace, she attended elementary schools in Wilbraham, and junior and high school in Springfield. She earned her bachelor of science degree in education from from Westfield State Teachers College in 1934. She continued her education, taking the Scofield Reference Bible course of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago; did graduate studies at Columbia Bible College in Columbia, S.C., and at Wheaton (Ill.) College; graduated from Child Evangelism Fellowship Leadership Training Institute in Grand Rapids Mich., and in her, 60s, received a bachelor of arts in Bible studies from the former Berkshire Christian College in Lenox and took Bible studies from International Bible Institute and Seminary in Miami.
Mrs. French was a longtime educator, first teaching high school math at Westervelt Home and School for Missionary Children in Columbia, S.C., then elementary grades in public schools in New Marlborough, Montgomery and Sheffield. She married in 1941 but as married women were not allowed to teach in public schools back then, she contented herself with testing in schools, teaching Sunday school at Old Parish Church and leading 4-H Clubs and Girl Scouts.
She worked with Child Evangelism Fellowship for more than 40 years, conducting teacher training classes and children's Good News Bible Clubs all over South Berkshire and being director for Berkshire County many years. She taught math at Starratt Memorial Christian School in Cheshire for awhile. Ever the teacher, she continued serving CEF in retirement in her 80s as a children's correspondence course instructor.
She was a former member of New England Keswick's women's auxiliary in Monterey and of Sheffield's Friendly Union, and was the current director of Sheffield Water Co. Mrs. French was a founding member of Grace Bible Church (now Greenwoods Community), but at the time of her death was a member of Sheffield Chapel, where she had faithfully taught Sunday school, coordinated children's church and vacation Bible school, and led the Missions Committee.
The family had lived in three different houses in the center of Sheffield and Mrs. French was persuaded at the age of 90 to move back to the first house with her daughter and son-in-law.
Her husband, Carlton Willcox French, whom she married on April 17, 1941, in Huntington died in 1998.
Besides her daughter and son-in-law, Grace Eastwood French Campbell and John Campbell, she leaves two brothers, William Newton Wallace of Wilbraham and Theodore Longfellow Wallace of Camillus, N.Y.; her grandson, Robert James Campbell of Sheffield; three nieces, a nephew, several grand- and great-grandnieces and -nephews, many wonderful cousins, and her cat, Sasha, taken in by the family last November.
She was precedeased by her son, Theodore Merrill French, on July 17, 1965, her sister Winifred Wallace Rice in 2004 and nephew Wayne Newfield Rice in 2007.
FUNERAL NOTICE — The family invites everyone to join them for a graveside service on Thursday, July 2, at 10:15 a.m. at Sheffield Center Cemetery, followed by a memorial service and reception at 11 at Sheffield Chapel.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 1, from 4 until 6 at Finnerty and Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington. In lieu of flowers gifts may be made to Sheffield Chapel or Sheffield Fire Department Building Fund in care of the funeral Home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through www.finnertyandstevens.com.