French Alvin Dumas

French Alvin Dumas went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on July 20, 2026, lovingly surrounded by his family. He was born on July 9, 1942, in Fort Worth, Texas, to Mary David (Owens) Dumas and Curtis Dumas.

French attended Irving High School, where he gained notoriety after riding his motorcycle down the school hallways. Detention in the library followed, and it was there that he met the love of his life, Julie Anne Kupsick—a straight-A student who had been voted "Most Beautiful" in her class —who happened to be studying there. As they say, opposites attract! Despite all the naysayers who insisted it would never last, French and Julie were married for 62 years and were blessed with a large, loving family: six daughters, one son, 13 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Together, they made their homes in Wimberley, Texas for 2 years, Plano, Texas for 29 years, and Whitesboro, Texas for 17 years. Before retiring, French worked for Uniforms, Inc. for 25 years. Prior to that, he enjoyed a successful career as a sales representative for several clothing lines at the Dallas Apparel Mart, where he served on the Board of Directors. He and Julie were faithful members of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas.

French's life was filled with stories so colorful they seemed almost impossible, yet every one of them was true. He lived boldly and had a remarkable gift for turning ordinary moments into unforgettable adventures. His life wasn't just measured by the years he lived, but by the adventures he pursued, the people he loved, and the stories that will be shared for generations.

Life dealt him heartbreak at an early age when he lost his mother at just nine years old, leaving two young brothers and a sister to grow up faster than children ever should. Together, the boys learned to survive by hunting rabbits to help put food on the table, since their father worked long hours. They even sold eggs at cut-rate prices, that is, until their dad found out they were undercutting his price! Ultimately, they relied on one another when life demanded more than children should ever have to give.

At sixteen, French made the first of many bold decisions when he ran off and got married to the girl he met while serving his detention in the library. The marriage certificate they hoped to keep secret was eventually discovered tucked away in his coat pocket. What began as a teenage act of courage became a love story that endured for 62 years and proved every doubter wrong.

As a wholesale apparel salesman, French spent years meeting people and collecting stories wherever he went. Some of his happiest memories were made in Montana, Julie's home state, where he rafted the Smith River and learned that you can never carry enough patches for the raft. He cherished the outdoors and loved camping, fly-fishing, and enjoying the beauty of God's creation. He found great joy in dove hunting, fishing, sailing, art, and collecting antiques and firearms.

French is lovingly survived by his seven children, Theresa Hall (Ad) of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Lisa Gillespie (Greg) of Wimberley, Texas; Maralee Foster (Thaddeus) of Wimberley, Texas; Katrina Lujan of Garland, Texas; Bill Dumas (Kathy) of Driftwood, Texas; Sara Yeaton (Ed) of Wimberley, Texas; and Erin Owens (Jimmy) of Fort Worth, Texas. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Heather McDaniel (Austin), Wes Hall, Madeleine Gillespie, Victor Gillespie, Jonathan Gillespie, Caitlin Foster (Michael Bennett), Alex Foster (Fiona Vaccaro Pratt), Andrew Lujan (Brianna), Christian Yeaton, Chacey Yeaton, and Lindsey Owens; his great-grandson, Ethan McDaniel; his sister, Sally Dumas Teel; his sister-in-law, Viola Dumas; his brother-in-law, Bill Miller (Linda); his brothers-in-law John (Jeri) Kupsick and Jim (Sherry) Kupsick; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Julie Anne Kupsick Dumas; his parents, Curtis and Mary Dumas; his brother with whom he shared a special bond, Curtis Gene Dumas; his son-in-law, Ed Yeaton; and his grandchildren, Danielle Lujan and Samuel Curtis Dumas.

Like the very best stories, French's life reminds us that truth is measured not only by facts, but by the joy, love, courage, and laughter that remain long after the storyteller is gone. In the end, a man becomes the stories his family will tell about him. By that measure, French lived an extraordinary life, and his story is only the beginning. For a man who took up so much space in this world, the world somehow seems a little smaller without him.

There will be a private graveside service and he will be laid to rest at New Hope Cemetery, Valley View, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, French's family requests that memorial donations be made to The Gideons International at: https://gideons.org/donate