Obituaries

George Gilchrist French

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at RD Copeland Ltd.-Irvine Chapel, 702 Beaver St., Sewickley,

George Gilchrist French, 75, of Glen Allen, VA, formerly of Sewickley, died Saturday, Oct. 20 in Richmond, VA.

French was employed for more than 30 years in corporate and marketing communications capacities for Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania, retiring in 1996 shortly after its merger with Pennsylvania Blue Shield to form Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Previously, he worked as a reporter for The Homestead Messenger and The Pittsburg Press.

French graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1960 and was active in local Penn State alumni affairs, serving as president of The Penn State Club of Allegheny County in 1975. An avid Penn State football fan, French missed just two home games in 35 years as a season ticket holder.

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French was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin W. and Kathryn C. French, and two brothers, Thayer C. French and William C. French (and his widow, Irma).

Surviving Mr. French are a sister-in-law, Susan E. French, of Belmont, MA; a niece, Catherine Marie French Zagurskie (and husband, Timothy) of Richmond, VA; a nephew, William G. French (and wife, Emily) of Glen Allen, VA; and two grand nephews, Nolan W. and Brayden P. French.

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Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at RD Copeland Ltd.-Irvine Chapel, 702 Beaver Street, Sewickley, where funeral services will be held at noon on Thursday, Oct. 25. Burial will be in Sewickley Cemetery.


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