Theodore "Tedd" Allen French

Theodore Allen "Tedd" French — beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, son composer, producer, and friend — passed away on June 22, 2026, at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach, Florida. He was 72 years old.

Born on May 21, 1954, in Crestline, Ohio, Tedd was the youngest child of Robert Allen French and Dorothy Louise (French) Hart. He was born into a musical family, one that often gathered to play and sing together, and that shared love of music surrounded him from the very beginning. Among those who shaped it was his great-grandmother Dickenson, a gifted pianist whose playing was part of the family's heritage. For Tedd, music became both his passion and his life's work, a career that would span more than five decades.

In Tedd’s early career in music he organized the band Suncast, whose 1975 albums Let It Shine and In Touch Again reflected the optimism and musicianship that characterized his early career. He then became music director for media production at Hialeah Hospital in Miami. In the mid-1980s, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he established himself as a professional songwriter. As a staff writer for Wrensong Publishing, Tedd wrote songs recorded by a number of artists, including "She Waits," released by Kenny Rogers.

Beyond songwriting, Tedd was a gifted producer who delighted in helping other artists bring their music to life. He worked closely with his sister, Patricia Sexton, a contemporary Christian singer-songwriter, producing her three solo albums. Later produced two recordings for the Mount Vernon Academy Echoliers, under Patricia’s direction. Most recently, the siblings collaborated on an Easter musical, “His Relentless Love”, with Tedd serving not only as producer, but narrator for the project.

Music introduced Tedd to many of the people who would become lifelong friends and collaborators. He was admired not only for his extraordinary musical gifts, but also for his warmth, generosity, magnetic personality and his sense of humor. Tedd was quick with a joke, quicker with a bit of good-natured teasing, and never happier than when he had a room laughing. Life around him was rarely serious for long; he loved to kid around, to stir up fun, and to find the lightness in any moment.

Friends often described him as the "hub of the wheel" — the one who brought people together, kept the laughter going, maintained lifelong friendships, and made everyone feel welcome. Among those friendships he treasured most were Gary Burns, Tom Paden, Dale Creech, and Gary Fritche, along with countless others whose lives were enriched by his encouragement, his mischief, and his music.

When Tedd wasn't at the guitar or the mixing board, he was likely to be found in the garden or the kitchen. He loved to grow things, and try new recipes exploring a wide range of cuisines. He had hundreds of recipes he had logged and organized in files in his office.

Tedd was first married to Cynthia Diane (Ippisch) Putterbaugh, with whom he had two children. Later in life he found enduring love and companionship with Marianne Dunn. The two were introduced by Marianne's daughter, Joanna Cotton, who worked in the music industry and was one of Tedd's frequent songwriting partners; together they co-wrote many songs. Tedd and Marianne eventually retired to Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, where they built a home on the same street as Joanna, enjoying years surrounded by family, friends, good food, and the Florida coast.

Tedd cherished his family. He is survived by his partner, Marianne Dunn; children, Nathaniel French and his wife, Christina Attiken, and Kathleen Messare and her husband, Alvin Murray; step-children, Joanna Cotton and Rob Haralson and his wife, Holly Haralson; his grandchildren, Salem, Elijah, Malachi, and Promise Messare; his brother, Robert L. French and his wife, Sue French; and his sisters, Kathleen L. Nelson, and Patricia J. Sexton and her husband, Dale Sexton; along with many nieces, nephews, extended family members, dear friends, and fellow musicians.

Tedd's music, kindness, humor, and unwavering love for the people around him leave a legacy that extends far beyond the songs he wrote. His melodies will continue to be heard, his laughter remembered, his friendships treasured, and his love reflected in the lives of those fortunate enough to know him.