Obituary of Carl G. French Jr.

Carl G. French Jr., 81, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family, after a brief battle with cancer. Carl was born in Unadilla, NY on June 2, 1941 to Carl G and Ethel French Sr. He married Joan M. VanValkenburg on May 27, 1966. Carl served his country in the US Army from 1963 to 1969 and was a key member in getting the Unadilla Veterans Memorial started. He was a Sergeant with the Village of Unadilla Police Department and was also a member of the Village of Sidney Police Department until 1983 when he became an Otsego County Deputy Fire Coordinator which he retired from in 2019 after 36 years of service. He was a member of the Unadilla Fire Department for 55 years, serving as first and second assistant fire chief and fire chief which he held for 13 years . He was a lieutenant of the fire police and president of the New York State Association of Fire Chief's and the Firemen's Association of the State of New York. Carl received the Gary Goodier Service Award in 1990, Otsego County's "Fireman of the Year" in 2006, was a 2018 recipient of the Commitment to Community award and was recently honored by the Office of Emergency Services and Office of the Sheriff for his years of service to Otsego County, along with other various certificate of merits and citations. After his retirement he continued to serve his community as the village of Unadilla code enforcer, zoning officer and was the Town of Unadilla's court bailiff. Carl was predeceased by his parents Carl and Ethel French, in-laws James and Rena VanValkenburg, sister Hilda Dolgos in 2020 and wife Joan on January 14, 2022. He is survived by his daughters and sons in law Tammy & Thomas Steinberg of Syracuse, Shelly & Ron Stanton of Unadilla. Grandchildren Danielle Steinberg (James Butler) of Syracuse, Thomas & Theresa Steinberg of Oneonta, Tory Gue of Unadilla and Great Granddaughter Avery Steinberg. Calling hours will be April 1st, 2023 from 10:00am – 12:00pm at C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, 21 Main St., Sidney, NY 13838. Services will follow at 1pm at the Unadilla Fire Department, 77 Clifton St., Unadilla, NY 13849. Burial will take place in Evergreen Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please make donations in his name to the Unadilla Fire Department Truck Fund or Helios Care of Oneonta. The family would like to thank Tanya, Jamie and Inda of Helios Care for everything that they did. Condolences and memories may be shared online at www.landersfh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, Sidney.