*** Vernon's wife, Velma, was a teacher at Webber Township Highschool. I have a photo of Velma from the WTHS 1952 yearbook if anyone is interested. Vernon R. French, 95, of Mt. Vernon, Illinois passed away at 1:45 P.M. on Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at Crossroads Community Hospital in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Mr. French was born on Saturday, July 10, 1915 in Hamilton County, Illinois the son of the late Joe and Mary (Flannigan) French. He married Velma M. Reynolds on December 26, 1949 in Union City, Tennessee and she preceded him in death on September 15, 2002. Surviving family members include his 2 daughters: Linda Eizenberg and husband Leon of Hudson, Ohio and Susan Hintzman and husband Kurt of Bloomington, Illinois; 3 grandsons: Jeff Eizenberg and wife Shannon of Chicago, Illinois, Mike Eizenberg of Chicago, Illinois and Matt Eizenberg and fiancee Shannon Pamsmith of Hudson, Ohio; great granddaughter: Veronica Eizenberg of Chicago, Illinois; several nieces and nephews also survive. His parents, wife, five brothers and two sisters preceded him in death. *ARRANGEMENTS:*** VISITATION: will be held from 5 to 8:00 P.M. on Thursday, January 20, 2011 at Hughey Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon, Illinois and from 9:00 A.M. until the service hour at 10:00 A.M. Friday, January 21, 2011 at First Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. FUNERAL SERVICES: will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, January 21, 2011 at First Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Reverend Greg Alvis and Reverend Ryan Burge will officiate. INTERMENT: Mt. Vernon Memorial Gardens in Woodlawn, Illinois. For those who wish, memorials may be given to Crossroads Hospital Auxiliary or Jefferson County Retired Teacher's Association and will be accepted at the funeral home, church or may be mailed to Hughey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 721, Mt. Vernon, Illinois 62864.** ***After attending McLeansboro High School, he proceeded to earn a BA degree in Education from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, a Master's Degree in School Administration from the University of Illinois Champaign, plus an advanced degree in Counseling and Guidance from U of I. Mr. French also attended DePaul University Chicago, Valparaiso University in Indiana, Northern Illinois University, Eastern Illinois University, University of Southern California and the University of Hawaii. Vernon was a teacher and administrator for 38 years, teaching in a one room school in Hamilton County, Illinois, a sixth grade teacher and coach for 14 years at Dr. Andy Hall; he organized and started the all day Head Start Program and was director for 3 years; was District 80 Guidance Counselor fro 2 years, was principal at Edison School for 10 years, taught Math at the Jr. High, was a member of Masonic Lodge #31 A.F. & A.M. in Mt. Vernon, the Andrew D. Webb Chapter 160 in Mt. Vernon, was past president and member of Jefferson County Retired Teachers Association; member of the Illinois Retired Teacher's Association; the National Education Association, the Jefferson County Historical Society, King City Dinner Club; was an active member in many areas of the First Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon and served as the Chairman of the church Board of Deacons for 30 years, was Senior Saint in 1999, was Sunday School Superintendent, was Sunday School teacher for 40 years, was awarded Deacon Emeritus in 1992 and served on the C.E. Brehm Public Library Board. *** ***Source: Hughey Funeral Home website *** ***