Grafton – William B. French Jr., 81, died Monday, April 15, at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, after an illness.
Bill leaves his wife of 44 years, Carol Ann Bohigian French; his sister Bonnie Jean Milberg of South Yarmouth; a niece Sybil Librandi and her husband Brian of Montgomery, N.Y.; a grandnephew Nicholas Librandi, and a grandniece Emily Librandi.
He was born in Worcester, son of William B. and Florence I. (Martin) French and lived most of his life in Grafton.
Bill graduated from Grafton High School, Worcester Junior College and Northeastern University with an engineering degree. He also served in the Massachusetts Army National Guard.
Bill was a buyer of materials for the Jamesbury Corporation, a manufacturer of sophisticated valves for countless applications. He worked for the company and its successor owners for 49 years, retiring in 2021.
Bill was an accomplished athlete. He was a longtime golfing member of Heritage Country Club in Charlton where he was the Club Champion three times. He participated in the Wachusett Country Club Thursday Night League for more than 30 years, and where he scored a hole-in-one on the fourth hole. He also competed for several years in the First Flight of the Wachusett Labor Day Weekend Four-Ball Tourney. Bill also played semi-pro hockey on Cape Cod for several seasons.
Calling hours are Friday, April 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster St., Worcester. The funeral will be Saturday, April 27, from the funeral home with a Mass at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 25 Fales St., Worcester. Burial will be Hope Cemetery, Worcester.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
