W. Thomas French (1955-2016)

Tom French, 60, of Bloomington, Ill. passed away at 10:58 a.m. Sunday, May 15, 2016 at the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria, Ill.
A Celebration of Tom’s Life will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 21, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 1706 RT Dunn Dr., Bloomington, Ill. 61701. Interment will be in Wilson, Kan. at a later date.  
Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington is assisting the family with arrangements.  
Memorials may be directed to the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home, Peoria.
To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.
Tom was born Oct. 27, 1955 in Bloomington, the son of Raymond Thomas and Mary Elizabeth Vaughan French. He married Tamera Foran on June 4, 1996 in Las Vegas, Nev. She survives.
He is also survived by his children, Jeana French of Hannibal, Mo., Jeremy French of Bloomington, BreeAnn (Nathan) Koch-Griffin of Wilson, Kan. and Jake Koch, also of Wilson; three grandchildren, Payge Hampton, Kristin Hampton and Alivia Koch-Griffin; his great-grandson, Dravyn Finlaw; and his father-in-law, Kevin Foran of Wilson.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Robert French and Raymond French, Jr., his mother-in-law, Dorothy Woods-Foran, and a grandson, Austin Scott Hampton.
Tom enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and served with The Big Red One. He graduated high school in Stutgart, Germany and later taught English while serving in Germany.   
Tom worked for Sam Leman Chrysler for 28 years and served as service manager. He also owned with his wife, The Iron Lion in Wilson.
God, Family and Country were Tom’s priorities.