FRENCH, Richard Everett – Santa Barbara News-Press

Richard Everett French, 76, of Los Osos, California, passed away peacefully at home on February 19, 2021 in the arms of his loving master with his beloved wife by his side.
Dick was born in Austin, Minnesota on August 5, 1944, and moved to California when he was 2 years old. He grew up across the street in Santa Barbara, where the new municipal golf course was being built. He hung out there, got some change as a caddy, and then picked up the game of golf, which became a lifelong passion.
Dick attended San Marcos High School, where he met his high school girlfriend, Linda Barnes. They graduated together in 1963 and were married for 55 years.
Dick is survived by his wife Linda; Sister Joanne Glaves of Soldotna Alaska; his two sons Kevin French, wife Shannon, children Cameron, Caleb, and Chaley from Omaha, Nebraska, and Darrell French, daughter Kara from Black Hawk, South Dakota; two sisters-in-law, Leslee Johnson from Santa Barbara and Louann Barnes from Figueroa Mountain, California, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was a loving father and a proud grandfather, known to everyone as “Pops”. Dick is preceded in death by his parents Everett and Marcella French and his brother Robert French.
Dick served in the United States Air Force and was very patriotic and supportive of fellow veterans. He returned to Santa Barbara, then attended PGA school and became the assistant golf professional at the newly established Sandpiper Golf Course. He later attended The Valley Club golf course in Montecito and became a head golf professional.
In 1978 he and his family moved to Ventura, where he became an active member of the First United Methodist Church, the East-End Lions Club, and the Retired Business Men’s Club. He devoted many years of his life to helping others and serving in the beloved Emmaus community.
After retiring from professional golf, Dick worked for Vulcan Materials in sales and shipping for 25 years and retired in 2005. He had a strong work ethic and an undeniable competitive spirit that came to life while watching a good soccer game or college baseball and had fun with his passion for golf until his final years.
Dick and Linda toured the United States on their 5th bike, snaking their way through Nebraska and South Dakota to see their family on their way home. They explored remote locations, played golf along the way, and watched baseball games during spring practice.
One of her favorite memories was a missionary trip to St. Lawrence Island visiting local relatives raised by Linda’s grandparents and Nome Alaska, where they worked on several charity projects at KICY Christian Radio Station and Nome Community Methodist Church. It then took them two months to take a ferry across Alaska to visit Dick’s sister and family in Soldotna.
His family and friends knew him as a gentle, meek, and calm, kind man, who always put the needs of others before his own, and whose actions spoke louder than his words. He will be remembered for his caring heart, loving hug, and unconditional love. In the future, a service to celebrate life is announced to honor a life well lived.
The family would like to thank their faithful families at El Morro Nazarene Church in Los Osos and First United Methodist Church in Ventura, California, the team at Wilshire Hospice and the many doctors who have looked after them, their friends at Daisy Hill Estates in Los Osos and im many other friends who contacted us during this difficult time.
Commemorative donations may be made in honor of Dick French to El Morro Nazarene Church, 1480 Santa Ysabel, Los Osos, CA 93402.