Robert 'Bo' French, DuPont Co. retiree

Robert "Bo" P. French, 82, of Lewes, passed away Sunday, March 8, 2015, at Beebe Healthcare in Lewes. He was born July 14, 1932, in Carnegie, Pa., son of the late Richard George and Hazel (Zurad) French.

Mr. French graduated from St. Luke's High School in Carnegie, class of 1950. He received his bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh, Pa. in 1954. Following his graduation, he embarked on a lifelong career with the DuPont Company in Orange, Texas. Throughout his career, Mr. French worked at various DuPont sites, Parkersburg, W.Va., Wilmington, Geneva, Switzerland, and returning to Wilmington.

As chairman of the Chemical Manufacturers Association, he was instrumental in the development of the distribution code that supported Responsible Care. After over 36 dedicated years, Mr. French retired in 1990 as director of transportation, DuPont Materials and Logistics Department.

Mr. French was a man of few words, but there was always something important said. He was also a man of many interests; he enjoyed furniture making, learning about science, and keeping an eye on current economics. He traveled all over the world and fished on many international waters. He loved classical music, reading history and enjoying a glass of wine.

Mr. French was an active parishioner of St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church and was on the cemetery board at St. Joseph on the Brandywine.

In addition to his parents, Mr. French was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Margaret B. (Hoffman) French in 2011; a son, Michael E. French; and a brother, George French. He is survived by his dear friend, Annie Finley; a son, Matthew S. French and his wife Joanna of Greenwood; two daughters: Kathleen M. Price and her husband Robert of Milford, and Margaret "Peggy" Zinman and her husband Dan of Vista, Calif.; five grandchildren: Caitlin Clery and her husband Jim, Beau Zinman, Brent Zinman, Erin French and Sean French; two sisters-in-law, Mary Kay Zimmer and her husband Bill, and Pat French; four nieces: Candy Breko and her husband Mike; Kim Hoffman, Barbara Kukacheck and her husband Paul; and Suzy French and companion Russell; three nephews: Donald “Duke” Hoffman, William "Bill" Zimmer and his wife Char and Jonathan Zimmer and his wife Kate; numerous great-nieces and -nephews as well as many dear friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, March 13, at 11 a.m., at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, 152 Tulip Drive, Lewes, where friends may visit beginning at 10 a.m. Interment will be held Saturday, March 14, at 11 a.m., at St. Joseph on the Brandywine Cemetery, 10 Old Church Road, Greenville. Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. French's memory to Osher Lifelong Learning Center, 820-A Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958, or Little Sisters of the Poor, 185 Salem Church Road, Newark, DE 19713.

Please visit Mr. French's Life Memorial Webpage and sign his online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.