Cover photo for Mr. Willard French Sr.'s Obituary
Mr. Willard French Sr. Profile Photo

Mr. Willard French Sr.

August 8, 1943 — October 31, 2023

Devoted husband, father and grandfather

WATERTOWN - Willard (Bill) E. French Sr. age 80 of Watertown, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at Waterbury Hospital with his family by side. He was the devoted husband of Lorraine (Nadolny) French.

Willard was born on August 8, 1943 in Waterbury, CT the son of the late Kenneth and Jane (Mirando) French. He lived most of his life in Watertown, CT. He grew up on Nelson Ave. in Waterbury, CT with his father, Kenneth, his mother, Jane, his brother, Kenneth and his sister, Flora G. (Trudy). He joined the Marine Corp. in 1960 and proudly served his country in 3d FSR until honorably discharged in 1966.
Shortly thereafter, he met his wife of 56 years, Lorraine (Nadolny) French, in Westerly, Misquamicut Beach, Rhode Island and they married in 1967. Westerly, Misquamicut Beach, Rhode Island had been their happy summer place ever since. He worked at Pratt & Whitney in Hartford, Winchester Electronics in Watertown, Timex Corp in Middlebury and Metallon Corp. in Thomaston before starting his own business, Acculine Engineering, in 1982. He worked at Acculine Engineering until he retired in 2019.

He is survived by his wife Lorraine French, his daughter, Christine Owens and her husband Patrick, his son Willard E. French Jr and his wife Doreen, his grandchildren Lauren Zukauskas, Matthew Zukauskas, Sarah Mellon, Steven Mellon, Amanda French, Jenna French, Willard E. French III, Aiden Owens, Sophia Owens and one great grandchild Liliana Osorio along with his sister Flora G. (Trudy) McWeeney and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his daughter, Helen French-Mellon (2015) and his brother Kenneth French (1982)

Funeral services for Mr. French will be held privately at the convenience of his family. The Casey-O’Neill Funeral Home 742 Main St Oakville has been honored to care for the French family during this most difficult time. Loving-kindness is always welcome, and it only takes a moment to offer a message of condolence, words of comfort, or share a memory with the family and friends of someone important to you. Please visit the funeral home’s tribute page at www.caseyfunerals.com to do so.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mr. Willard French Sr., please visit our flower store.

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