"You never know someone until you walk a mile in their shoes." BLAND, Va. - Buford Lee ("Butch" French, 68, of Bland, died Tuesday, July 28, 2015 following a long illness. He was born April 25, 1947 in Bland County, the son of the late Daniel Miller and Mary Alice Smith French. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and was a retired machine operator with Virginia Department of Transportation, Bastian Division. Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife of 49 years, Nancy Bowles French, Bland; a son and daughter-in-law, Ralph Daniel (R.D.) and Rhonda French, Bland; three daughters and sons-in-law, Carol and Benny Shockley, Bland, Rhonda and Jeffrey Robinett, Bland, and Tammy and Thomas Johnson, Wytheville; sisters and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Gary Nelson, Rocky Gap and Oma Jane Clowers, Pearisburg; very special grandchildren, Jessica Shockley, Michael and Brooke Shockley, Hassil Robinett, Timothy (T.J.) Robinett, Cynthia " Metal Mouth" Johnson, Daniel French, Jr, Chelsey French and Kelley Wilcox; very special great-grandchildren, Adrianna "Little Girl" Shockley, Elijah "Little Buddy" Shockley and Michael Shockley, Jr.; "extended" special grandchildren, Samantha Parker, Cassey Weatherly, Shane O'Dell and Carter O'Dell; special friends, Joseph Sims, Roger Brewster, Rex Morehead and Vera Blankenship, who was always around. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, July 30, 2015 at 1:00 P.M. at A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home, White Gate, with Rev. Omar Burns & Jack Cox officiating. Burial will follow at Morning Star Cemetery, Bland. The family will receive friends Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home, White Gate, from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M.