Rev. Dr. William Maynard French

Rev. Dr. W. Maynard French passed away Thursday, August 31, 2023 comfortably in his home. Maynard was born in Granger, Ohio in 1928.  He is survived by his three children: Deborah French, Mark French, Jon French and four step-children:  Deni Lowery, Marcia Ogilvie, Mark Hyde and Annie Arvidson.  He was a grandfather and a great-grandfather.  His wives proceeded him in death: Marilyn Goetz, Martha French and Betty Lou French.  He enlisted in the Army Air Force right after World War II.  Maynard attended Baldwin Wallace College and received his Masters in Divinity from Oberlin in 1954.  Rev. French was a pastor and leader in the United Methodist Church for forty years.  He served churches in Remson Corners, Chattam, Macedonia, Ashtabula and Akron, Ohio.  He was the District Superintendent of the churches in the Canton Area then appointed to the Council on Ministries of the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church.  Maynard’s two loves were his growing family and his antique cars.  He was always happy to give visitors, especially grandchildren, rides in his Model A Fords.  Along with spiritual guidance, Maynard enjoyed working with his hands by woodworking, remodeling and repairing whatever needed fixing in his home. Rev. French passed away peacefully in his sleep with his family surrounding him.  He will be dearly missed.

.A memorial service will be held 11:00am Wednesday, September 6th at Westbrook Park United Methodist Church 2521 12th St. NW, Canton, Ohio 44708 Friends may call 5:00-7:00pm Tuesday in the Arnold & Spiker-Foster-Shriver Funeral Home 4817 Cleveland Ave. NW, Canton, Ohio 44709.  Interment in Forest Hill Cemetery will be private for the family. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Westbrook Park United Methodist Church.

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