George M. (Jim) French, 87, of West Tisbury, died on Jan. 23 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital following complications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

A 1941 graduate of Vermont Academy, he attended Dartmouth College for two years and then was called in to World War II military service. He served in the 10th Mountain Division (Colorado), the 27th Division (Okinawa) and the 11th Airborne Division (Japan).

Returning to the States, he completed the remaining two years at Dartmouth and was then employed by International Milling Co. until called back into service for the Korean War. Here he served with the Mountain Training Command out of Ft. Carson, Colo.

After discharge from military service, Mr. French began a 29-year career in sales management with Pitney Bowes, Inc. followed by three years with Heller-Mark Realty, both out of Denver, Colo. In 1981 he retired, moving to Martha’s Vineyard with his wife, Mary, a former Island resident.

A man with love of both sea and mountains, he lived where both could be enjoyed to the fullest; fishing, climbing and camping in the Rockies with his family, and sailing with his wife and friends on the Vineyard.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Stokes French; daughter Ellen French Bunch and son in law, Doyle L. Bunch (all of West Tisbury); as well as his grandson Brian D. Bunch of Washington, D.C.; granddaughter, Amanda M. Bunch of Denver, Colo.; and his sister, Carolyn F. Judson of Etna, N.H. He was predeceased by his son, Mark Wheeler French.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Memorial plans to be announced later.