West Windsor, VT – Robert Aaron French, 87, passed away from complications of COVID on the evening of January 8, 2024.

He was born the son of Clinton A. and Margaret E. (Colburn) French on March 21, 1936. Bob grew up in Hartland where he attended school before going to Windsor High School, graduating in 1954. He was an excellent athlete and excelled in football, basketball, and baseball. He was married to Betty Ann Pudvah, his partner for life, in 1957 and shared everything in his life with her for the past 66 years.

When he was a younger man, he raced cars with the likes of Bill Campbell, Lawrence Davis, and Del Crowell. He later went on to play men's league softball for various Hartland and Windsor teams and when his children were born, he marveled in all their activities, sports, and events. Over the years, the family developed deep friendships with the Carter and Gilman families. Bob, Sherm, Roger and Rollie Husband were instrumental in starting the Windsor High School Booster Club; and he and Betty were proud to host the Windsor Football Breakfast at his kitchen table for many years. He and his friends enjoyed skiing at Mt. Ascutney and traveling together, including many ski trips and a cruise to Alaska.

Bob's entire professional career was in the automobile business, beginning with the Davis Brothers, then the Carriage House both in Windsor and finally at Howe Motors in Claremont. True to his nature of helping others, Bob was never shy about going to anyone's house to help out with their cars or any other thing needing fixing. He also helped to care for several homes around West Windsor. From 1991 to 2017, Bob, Betty and their daughter Robin owned and operated Sugarbush Florist where Bob made, delivered, chatted, and watered. He was also a major figure in his grandson's business, Edgerton Lawn and Property Maintenance.

Bob was also very active civically, including as a member of the Windsor Rotary Club where he was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow, and worked at the West Windsor town offices until his sudden illness.

Given all his accomplishments and adventures his most treasured joy was his family. He  leaves his loving wife of nearly seven decades, Betty, of West Windsor; daughter, Robin  French of West Windsor; sons, R. Todd French (Sharon) of Grantham, NH and Paul C. French (Denise) of Norwell, MA; grandchildren, Eric Edgerton (Hannah), Robert (Hannah Bright), Logan French, Jackie French, Adam French, Peter French; great grandchildren, Noah Farnsworth, Jackson Edgerton,  Cooper and Angus Edgerton; a niece and two nephews.

He was predeceased by two brothers, Edward C. French, and Charles R. French.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the West Windsor Town Hall Sunday January 14, 2024, from 1-4PM.

Condolences to Bob's family may be made in an online guestbook at knightfuneralhomes.com

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Windsor High School Booster Club, 19 Ascutney St., Windsor, VT 05089, or the Youth Program at Ascutney 0utdoors, PO Box 101, Brownsville, VT 05037.