William Williams French III

William (Bill) Williams French, III, son of Anna McLester French and William Williams French, Jr., passed away on Thursday, December 10, 2020 at the age of 89. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama and graduated from Ramsey High School in 1949. He graduated from Princeton University with a degree in engineering in 1953 and was a Lt JG on the USS Philippine Sea at the end of the Korean War from 1953 - 1955. He continued his education, graduating in 1957 with an MBA from Harvard Business School. Bill had a distinguished business career, beginning with Alabama Power from 1957 - 1963. He worked at Moore - Handley beginning in 1963 and became President of Moore-Handley Hardware Company and was also a member of the Young Presidents Organization. He continued his career, founding The Storeroom as a division of Thompson Tractor Company, and subsequently The Storeroom was sold to Turner Supply Company. Bill was President of the Downtown Rotary Club of Birmingham and District Governor of District 6860. He was a member of The Redstone Club and Mountain Brook Club. As a longtime member of Blooming Grove Hunting and Fishing Club, he enjoyed bird hunting and was an avid fly fisherman; he knew where every fish was in the streams. He was a fourth generation member of South Highland Presbyterian Church, baptized there as a baby, later serving as an Elder and Trustee. He enjoyed greatly the Leadership Sunday School class. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Jane Blough French, his daughter, Helen Decker Caldwell, his son, William W. French, IV, and his daughter, Janie French Fahey. He has four grandchildren: Billy (Madison) and Gabi Fahey, and Cate and Griffin Caldwell. He is also survived by his sister, Anna Brantley of Wilmington, Delaware and his brother and sister-in-law, Jamie and Mary French of Birmingham, Alabama. His sister and brother-in-law, Ada and Jamie McWane, are deceased. There will be a Service of Witness to the Resurrection at South Highland Presbyterian Church on Sunday, December 13 at 2 PM with limited attendance, due to Covid 19 precautions. The service will be broadcast and you can click the "Worship with Online" button on the South Highland website, www.southhighland.org, the South Highland Facebook page, facebook.com/southhighlandpresbyterian, or the South Highland Youtube channel, youtube.com/southhighland. If you would like to attend in person, please make your reservation at: [email protected]. Memorial Gifts may be made to South Highland Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama or to First Presbyterian Church in Hawley, Pennsylvania.