John French

J. Thomas French, age 90, passed away peacefully on May 20, 2026, at 1:30 a.m., after a life that was full of laughter, friendship, storytelling, and deep devotion to the people he loved most.
Tom was a lifelong Zanesville High School Blue Devil, a proud U.S. Marine, a graduate of Ohio University, a Trustee of Muskingum County Soldiers and Sailors Monumental Association, a member of the Kiwanis Club of Zanesville, and a devoted member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.
Tom was a man who truly enjoyed life. He loved spending time with his family and friends, telling stories, laughing often, and making memories with the people around him. He was unquestionably the family’s chief storyteller — especially if Irish Whiskey or Fireball happened to be involved. Whether the stories had been told once or a hundred times before, they somehow always got better with each retelling, usually accompanied by plenty of laughter, a few embellishments, and at least one person saying, “Tom, that’s not exactly how it happened.”
Whether he was on the golf course playing with Vicky and the grandkids, enjoying time with friends, or heading out on the boat with Joan and Paul, Tom embraced life with gratitude, humor, and an easygoing spirit that made people feel welcome and loved. He never met a stranger for long and always knew how to make a gathering more fun simply by being there.
Retirement suited Tom extremely well — so well, in fact, that he often joked he had perfected it over the course of 28 years. He filled those years with golf, sunshine, travel, friendship, and countless moments with the people who mattered most to him. He especially loved his time in Englewood, Florida, on Manasota Key, where life moved a little slower, the sunsets were a little better, and happy hour stories had a way of lasting well into the evening.
More than anything, Tom will be remembered for how deeply he loved and cherished his family, matched only by how immeasurably he was loved in return. His presence brought comfort, steadiness, fun, and joy to so many lives. He leaves behind a lifetime of memories that will continue to be shared around dinner tables, on golf courses, at family gatherings, on boats, on beaches, and anywhere stories of Tom are told with smiles and laughter.
He is survived by his treasured wife of almost 63 years, Vicky (McLendon) French; his beloved three daughters, Mary (Scott) McCleary, Joan (Paul) Huey, and Marcy Raymond, who adored him; eight grandchildren Taylor, Nick, Alex (Morgan), Cameron (Taylor), Jake, Kelleigh (Brady), Madison, and Gracie; and soon-to-be eight great-grandchildren. The family he loved was extensive and included the California Frenchs, the Pennsylvania Frenchs, the Zanesville crew of the Bakers, the McLendons, and the Millers. In total, 30 nieces and nephews and countless grand nieces and nephews. Uncle Tom loved them all.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Bonita French; his brothers, Walter “Bud” and Jim French; his sister, Patricia Baker; and his son-in-law, Chad (Marcy) Raymond.
A Celebration of Life will be held on June 21, 2026, from 2–3 p.m. at the Zanesville Country Club (1300 Country Club Drive, Zanesville).
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Zanesville Alumni Association (www.ZAA@zanesville.k12.oh.us).
The family requests that all who knew Tom honor his memory by spending time with family, enjoying a round of golf, taking a boat ride, sharing a story, raising a toast, or simply living life as he did.
He will be deeply missed and forever loved.
The Bryan & Hardwick Funeral Home, 2318 Maple Ave. Zanesville is in charge of the arrangements. To share memories and condolences with Tom’s family please visit www.BryanHardwickFH.com.