Norman Ernest French

Norman Ernest French

June 7, 1925 - March 1, 2019

Norman E. French died at the age of 93 of age-related problems.  Norman is survived by daughters, Debra E. Chasteen (Michael) and Pamela French-Stern (Terry), grandchildren Christopher, Nicholas, Timothy, and Valerie Okamoto.  Norman was born in the family home on French Road, Florin, CA on June 7, 1925.

He was preceded in death by his former wife Elizabeth; brothers, Leonard and Donald French; and sister, June Halverson.

Norman graduated from the Florin West Grammar School in 1939 and Elk Grove Union High School in 1943.  In 1943 he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program and served until his honorable discharge in 1945.

After returning home from his WWII service he joined in the operation of his father’s, Harry French’s family Studebaker dealership. After his dad’s retirement in 1956 Norman continued the business together with two associates until its closure in 1964 when Studebaker discontinued car production.

After the completion of college classes majoring in business management, auditing, accounting, and governmental accounting, Norman began a new career with the Sacramento County Office of Auditor- Controller in 1969.  This new career began in the Audits Division that was responsible for reviewing, developing, and implementing countywide accounting systems.  After 11 years in this capacity, Norman accepted a position in charge of the Administration Division of the Public Defender’s Office where he served for 10 years until his retirement in 1990.

In his retirement years, he acquired and restored the 1956 Studebaker President that his father Harry French had taken into retirement in 1956.

Norman enjoyed spending time at his favorite home away from home, a cabin near South Lake Tahoe, which included fishing and blackjack tournaments.  Other hobbies were landscaping, gardening, and genealogy research.

He attended computer classes in his early 70’s to become computer literate in order to access the Internet, conducting genealogy research.  This most recent and continuing hobby, an avid interest in family history, included internet correspondence with cousins in the United States, England, Germany, and the Cayman Islands; tracing family history to the 1400s.  As a result, he authored a book on his French family ancestors, co-authored a book on his Mollet family ancestors, as well as contributing to a recent book on the history of Florin, CA.

At his request, no services were held.  Inurnment at East Lawn Cemetery, Folsom Boulevard, Sacramento, CA.           

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