Espin "Ep" A. French

Espin A. "Ep" French, age 92, of Scipio, Kansas, passed away on Sunday, July 7, 2013, at Richmond Healthcare and Rehab in Richmond, Kansas. He was born on April 7, 1921, in White Oak, Oklahoma, the son of George W. and Delora (Radford) French. He graduated from LeRoy High School with the Class of 1939. While coming back through Emporia during wheat harvest, Ep saw a billboard sign that read, "Join the Marines, See the World", and so he did. He entered the United States Marines in 1942 and served through 1945. During World War II, he saw battle on Iwo Jima, Bougainville, and Guadalcanal. He was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity and was the recipient of the Purple Heart. Ep was united in marriage to Dorothy Levering on June 5, 1945, in Atchison, Kansas. This union was blessed with three daughters. She preceded him in death. He was united in marriage to Mary Jane (Powelson) Rockers on June 29, 1974, at Scipio, Kansas. She preceded him in death. After returning home from the service, Ep owned and operated French's Produce in Westphalia until 1959. He relocated his family to Garnett where he was employed by Anderson County Grain. Later, he worked for Warner Manufacturing Company as a cutter, Valley R Farm Services, Richmond Co-Op and Princeton Grain. Ep was an avid hunter, outdoorsman, had a love for sports, especially baseball. He played baseball and was also the American Legion baseball coach for many years. Ep never missed any Garnett High School sporting events when his daughters were in school, and continued to support local high school sports as he watched his grandchildren play and beyond. He loved visiting with people at Country Mart, Short Stop and Dollar Store. Ep loved his family and enjoyed watching them all grow up. One highlight in his later years was being a part of the Honor Flight Trip to Washington, D.C. on Veterans Day 2009 with the Southern Coffey County High School students. He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Jack, Claude, Leonard, Lillard, and Kenneth (Tarz); three sisters, Opal Quiggle, Lorene Smith, and Mildred Sharrai. Ep is survived by three daughters, Marcia Mader and husband Ivan; Michelle Rockers and husband Bernie; Donna Benjamin and husband Steve, all of Garnett, Kansas; stepsons, Frank Rockers Jr. and wife Gayleen of Ottawa, Kansas; Richard Rockers and wife Ginger of Maryville, Tennessee; stepdaughters, Jane Johnson of Ottawa, Kansas; Catherine Clauder and husband Ken of Kansas City, Kansas; Regina Rockers of Kansas City, Kansas; Faye Leitch and husband Dave of Garnett, Kansas; Loretta Coltrane and husband Dan of Garnett, Kansas; Monica Sobba of Richmond, Kansas; sister, Geraldine Willard and husband Bob of Waxahachie, Texas; sisters-in-law, Ann Levering of Topeka, Kansas; Betty French of LeRoy, Kansas; eleven grandchildren; twenty step grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren; and twenty step great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 13, 2013, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Scipio, Kansas. Burial will follow in the Garnett Cemetery. Family will greet friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday evening at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Tri-Ko, Inc. or Stony Brook Hospital Pediatric Oncology Unit. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com