French Jr., Emory Cecil

Emory Cecil (Bud) French Jr., 70, of Narrows, departed this life Friday, June 20, 2008, at his home following a courageous battle with brain cancer.

He was born in Princeton, W.Va., on June 13, 1938, and was the son of the late Emory Cecil French Sr. and Kathryn Louise Harless French. In addition to his mother and father, he was preceded in death by a stepmother, Veronia White (Ronnie) French.

He served in the United States Air Force from 1961 to 1988, including two tours of duty in Vietnam, as well as in Korea, Japan and England, retiring as a Chief Master Sergeant. From 1990 to 2003 he operated “Bud Can Fix It,” a handyman business in Niceville, Fla., and was very popular with Bluewater Bay community residents. In 2003, he became a part-time resident in both Narrows and Crestview, Fla. Bud enjoyed hunting, golfing, fishing, gardening, do-it-yourself projects and was a lover of animals.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Annetta Bird French, of Narrows; one son, David French and wife, Rhonda, of Niceville, Fla.; a daughter, Cindy Pierce and husband, Bill, of Navarre, Fla.; three grandchildren, Brandon French, Brittney French and Joshua Pierce; three brothers, Mike and Mary French, of Narrows, Larry and Rose French, of Radford, and Gary French, of Sumter, S.C.; several aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins; and an uncle, Jim French, of South Park, Pa.

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, June 22, 2008, in the chapel of Riffe’s Funeral Service in Narrows. Burial will be private. The family will receive friends at Riffe’s Funeral Service Saturday, June 21, 2008, from 5 to 7 p.m.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to the Giles County Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society. Online condolence messages can be sent to the family at www.riffes.com.