Services for Gifford E. French, 81, of Arlington, who died May 9, 1996, at Memorial Hospital of Dodge County in Fremont, were Monday, May 13 at Arlington Community Church in Arlington. Rev. Lee J. Milligan officiated. Burial was in the Arlington Cemetery.

Gifford E. French was born October 20, 1914, at the family farm northeast of Arlington. He farmed there until 1977.

Along with farming, in 1957, he founded French’s Eggs Produce, raising, processing and selling eggs. In 1959, he bought Gottsch Produce in Elkhorn and moved his processing plant from the farm to Elkhorn. He sold French’s Eggs, Inc. in 1980. At the time of the sale, they were the major supplier of eggs to all of Eastern Nebraska. He moved into Arlington in 1993.

He was a member of Arlington Community Church, Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 3943 of Elkhorn, was a past school board member of rural School District No. 31 and served in the school re-organizational committee of Washington County.

He married Georgiana “Sis” Hansen French October 22, 1939, at Blair.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Naomi Johns French and infant Willard French.

He is survived by his wife, Georgiana; a son, Eugene French of Elkhorn; a daughter, Dianne (Mrs. Melvern) Hilgenkamp of Arlington; two sisters Ethel French and Irene Savage, both of Fremont; five grandchildren, Jeff French, Mike French, Greg French, Chris Hilgenkamp and Tami Hilgenkamp Ruskamp and three great-grandchildren, Cole French, Brandon French and Eddie Ruskamp.

Pallbearers were Jeff French, Mike French, Greg French, Chris Hilgenkamp, Joe Ruskamp and Tom Savage.

Memorials may be directed to the Arlington Community Church.

Reckmeyer-Moser Funeral Home in Arlington was in charge of arrangements.