Gene Colin French

Gene Colin French, age 81, passed away at his home in Franklin, Tennessee on Saturday, December 7, 2024. He was born in Erwin, Tennessee on April 25, 1943, to the late Carl and June French.

Gene graduated from Unicoi County High School and East Tennessee State University in Johnson City with a BS in Mathematics. 

Gene proudly served our country in the United States Army. He entered his duty in September of 1965 and was honorably discharged in September of 1967. 

After the Army, he worked at NASA during the moon walks and Apollo missions. He then met his beloved wife and was married on June 10, 1972. Several years later, they settled in Franklin, Tennessee where they would live and he would start his career at South Central Bell as an Engineer. He stayed with them for over 30 years watching it evolve into BellSouth and later AT&T. He was the first to move into the iconic “Bat Building” located in downtown Nashville. After working over 30 years and retiring from the phone business, he could pursue his golf passion. He loved to share the sport with others and was known to offer help and pointers on the practice ranges around town and to his grandkids. His kind spirit would always put you at ease around a golf club. In retirement he also became a member of the Tennessee Squire Association. 

He loved his family and especially spending time with his grandchildren. Gene is survived by his loving wife, Nancy Pierce French, daughter, Ginna French DuRard, granddaughter, Ashley DuRard Bytomski (Trevor), and grandson, James Pierce DuRard.