Dean French, 83, of Bluffton, died Dec. 12, 2020, at Bluffton Hospital. Dean was born March 31, 1937, in Mercer County, Ohio to the late Harold French and Martha (Fuhrman) French Stober.  On Feb. 14, 1959, he married Connie (Adams) French, who survives in Bluffton.

Dean served with the United States Army and for many years was Allen County Auditor.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Bluffton. Dean was a lifelong member of both the Elks Lodge and the Lima Area Jaycees. He was also a member of the Moose Club and the Fraternal Order of the Eagles. Dean was active member of the Allen County Republican Party.

Survivors include his wife Connie French of Bluffton; three children, Randall (Karen) French of Charleston, South Carolina, Brad (Bridget) French of Charleston, South Carolina, Julie (Eric) Garmatter of Bluffton; a daughter-in-law, Cindy French of Palmyra, Pennsylvania; nine grandchildren, Tiffany, Rhiannon, Kellen, Harris, Owen and Kate French, and Brinkley, Baylor, and Laykin Garmatter and a sister, Evelyn Berbower of Rockford, Ohio.

Dean was preceded in death by his mother-in-law, Vera Adams Samples; a son, Todd French and a brothers-in-law, Robert Berbower and Ronald Sanner.

A service for close friends and family will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18,  at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.  William Herr and Pastor Bob Clinger officiating. 

Visitation will be held immediately prior to the service from noon until the time of the service at the funeral home.  Burial of the cremated remains will take place in Maple Grove Cemetery, Bluffton at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Bluffton Athletic Boosters or to the First United Methodist Church Youth Scholarship Fund.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.