David Preston French passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at his summer home in Colorado on July 25, 2025, at the age of 93, following a hospitalization. David was born on June 7, 1932, in Scurry, TX to Edna Mae Hart French and George Craven French. He survived his three siblings, George Hart French, Robert Henry French, and Patsy French Beck.

Growing up, his family lived mostly in Texas but farmed for a few years in Wolf Bayou, Arkansas. He joined the Army at an early age requiring the signature of a parent. He trained as a paratrooper but switched to being a forward observer for field artillery. A ship headed for Japan detoured and took him to Korea due to the beginning of the Korean Conflict. He was awarded a Bronze Star for Valor for his actions during the Chinese invasion.

After his military service, he worked at various jobs before returning to school and receiving his B.S. in Business from, what is now, West Texas A& M University. He completed an internship in Hospital Administration at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and began his career in healthcare administration as the Administrator of Mesquite Memorial Hospital. He later found his calling in Nursing Home Administration as an owner/operator and CEO of multiple facilities. His natural instincts, relentless work ethic and deep care for others won him the respect in his industry where he also served as Treasurer on the board of the Texas Healthcare Assoc. as well as committees on the American Healthcare Assoc. In “retirement” he worked for many years as a consultant, including being assigned as a trustee by the Attorney General’s Office in Texas and in other states at the request of federal agencies.

David was a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner, where he was a member of the championship Hella Black Horse Patrol drill team that traveled the country participating in presidential inaugural parades and the Rose Bowl.

David’s life was touched by tragedy several times, first with the death of his youngest son, Phillip, in a plane crash in which David was severely burned and spent many months in the hospital surviving against all odds. A number of years later, he lost his first wife, Doris, with whom he had three sons. Patrick, the middle son, passed away from cancer in 2023.

He married again, a colleague, Sharon Chalfant, with which he spent the last 46 years of his life. They had a very active life. Besides both working in the nursing home industry, they traveled, built a cabin in Colorado, enjoyed RVing and helped start an ELCA Lutheran mission church in Spicewood, TX. He got a bonus with Sharon’s daughter, Shelly, who was 5 years old when they married, and he loved her as his own.

David is survived by his beloved wife, Sharon, son Preston French, daughter Shelly Newsom Kilpatrick (Chad), grandchildren- Kirstin Gaddis (Bobby), Cameron French (Alonna), Rachel Stewart (Brandon), Victoria French, and Charles Kilpatrick, as well as four great-grandchildren. David is also remembered with love by countless friends (and their dogs) whose lives he touched with his humor, thoughtful advice, and kindness.

Memorials donations may be given to Spirit in the Hills Lutheran Church, 2106 Bee Creek Rd., Spicewood, TX 78669 or to Shriners Hospitals for Children at lovetotherescue.org.

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/david-preston-french/obituary/

Copy