Ryland Tracy French

Ryland Tracy French 72 of Bluefield, Virginia passed away on Wednesday, October 16, 2013 at Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke, Virginia. Tracy was born on Saturday, September 06, 1941 in Bluefield, Virginia to the late Ivan French and Ethel Rutherford French. He was a 1959 graduate of Graham High School in Bluefield, Virginia. He was a retired manufacturing engineer and a lifelong resident of Bluefield, Virginia. Tracy was a lifetime member and president of triangle sportsman club, Endowment member of the NRA as well as an instructor for the NRA. He was the commander of the Brown-Harman Nighthawks #1573 Sons of Confederate Veterans, Member of the Sons of the American Revolution. He was a founding member of the Bluefield Virginia Rescue Squad. Tracy was a Boy Scout of America Leader as well as Civil War Re-enactor with Chapman Battery. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one brother Samuel French. Survivors Include: Loving wife: Vicky Pennington French of the home One Son: Michael Wayne French of Anchorage, Alaska One Brother: Jerry French and wife Helen of Abington, Virginia Several nieces and nephews Funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell, West Virginia with Minister Frank Watkins officiating. Burial will follow at Maple Hill Cemetery in Bluefield, Virginia where Military graveside rites will be conducted in a joint effort by Brown-Harman Nighthawks, SCV Camp # 1573 and Flat Top Copperheads SCV Camp # 1694. Friends and family will serve as pallbearers, serving as honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Domingo Javier, The Brown-Harman Nighthawks #1573 and the late Bev Fuller, and Chapman Battery Re-enactors. Friends and family may call at Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell, West Virginia on Friday, October 18, 2013 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Online condolences will be accepted at www.cravens-shires.com Cravens-Shires Funeral Home, 3431 Coal Heritage Road (Bluewell), Bluefield, WV 24701 is serving the family.