Barbara J. French

John 11:25

Jesus “---he that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” Barbara professed Jesus Christ as her savior and was baptized at First Baptist Church of Danville in 1948.

Barbara J. French, 87, of Danville, passed away on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte, Florida. She was under hospice care after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born the youngest of 7 children to Martin M. Burch and Hazel L. Bridgewater Burch on February 08, 1932.

Preceding Barbara in death include both parents; husband Bob French; three sisters, Elizabeth Sisco, Evelyn Barlow, and Maxine Lanter Parish; and one brother, Jack Burch.

She is survived by her companion, Robert Wright; siblings, Carl Burch of St. Petersburg, FL and Belva Sullivan of Danville, IL; nine nieces and nephews, Susan Windle, Joanne Walden, John Burch, Douglass Lanter, Martin Lanter, Michelle Lanter, Troy Sullivan, Kip Sullivan, and Scott Sullivan; and a long time best friend, Betty Harpster of Las Vegas, NV.

Barbara attended Danville High School and graduated in 1949. She worked in San, Jose, CA as a Loan Officer at First Interstate Bank. They were later bought out by Wells Fargo where she retired after working for many years. She returned to Danville in 2008 to be with her family. Barbara had many hobbies. She loved classical movies and music scores, her favorite being, “Somewhere in Time,” dancing to Big Band music and line dancing to Country music, crossword puzzles, and Thomas Kinkade jigsaw puzzles. Her favorite color was turquoise, and her favorite hymn was “It is Well With My Soul.”  Barbara was a member of the First Baptist Church for many years but would recently attend Faith Baptist Church. She also loved to attend the Danville Christian Women’s Connection luncheons, the DHS 1949 luncheons, and the Danville Symphony.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, May 09, 2019 at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Danville, Illinois, 3940 N Vermilion St. Danville, Illinois 61834. Officiating will be Pastor Aaron Kimmel. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park in Danville at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the Faith Baptist Church or the Vermilion County Handicapped Association.

Please join Barbara’s family in sharing memories, photos, and videos on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com. 

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