Herbert A. France

Herbert “Bud” Arthur France Jr, 86, of Eastham MA passed away on Tuesday July 7, 2015. He was a graduate of Farmington High School in Farmington CT and attended Hillyer College, University of Hartford in Hartford CT, graduating as an Industrial Engineer. Bud served in the US Army as a clarinetist and drum major in the Army band.

Bud held positions as Quality Control Manager with various companies including the machine tool and cutting tool division of Pratt and Whitney in West Hartford CT, Massey Ferguson LTD of Coventry England, and Stanley Tools in New Britain CT. He went into industrial consulting with Rath and Strong, Inc. of Lexington MA. Bud was a Senior Member of the American Society of Quality Control as an ASQC Certified Quality Engineer and ASQC Reliability Engineer.

Bud enjoyed traveling, skiing, music, and model building. He was Chairman of Troop 92, Cheshire CT, Long Rivers Council, Boy Scouts of America, for several years and also was the Scoutmaster of Troop 92. In recent years, he enjoyed retirement on Cape Cod MA and traveling with his companion Vivien Cook of Eastham MA. He enjoyed singing in the choir of the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House in Chatham MA and the Chatham Chorale. He also enjoyed playing the clarinet in the Harwich Town Band, the Brewster Band, Cape Community Orchestra, and Lower Cape Cod band.

Bud is predeceased by his first wife, Elisabeth “Betsy” MacDonald France; his daughter, Susan Elisabeth France, and his second wife, Beatrice “Bea” Murdock France. He leaves a daughter, Jennifer France and her husband Rick Grady of Westerly RI; two sons, Stuart France and his wife Charlene France of Eastham MA, John France and his wife Sharon France of Portland CT, three step daughters; Alison Murdock of Harwinton CT, Pamela Polderman and her husband Johnny Polderman of Barkhamsted CT, and Dorothy Murdock of Oregon. He also leaves behind several grandchildren and step grandchildren; Matthew France, Christopher France, Michael France, Kenneth Ciaburri, Kathleen France, Cynthia France, step granddaughters Karla Lindquist and Amy Polderman, and step grandson Jason Murdock.

Bud is predeceased by his brothers, William France of Unionville CT and Arthur France of Bristol. He leaves a Brother Kurt France of Reading California, and a sister, Doris Hagood of Manassas VA, and a sister in law, Nancy France of Unionville CT. Bud also leaves his companion, Vivien Cook, of Eastham MA.

Memorial Services will be held at the Dennis Union Church located at 713 Main St. Dennis MA on Wednesday July 22nd at 11am, and at the West Avon Congregational Church located at 280 Country Club Road, Avon CT on Saturday July 25th at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Susan France Fund - UCC Cheshire, 111 Church Dr, Cheshire, CT 06410.