Kyle French

CHILHOWIE, Va. – The Rev. Kyle French, age 88, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 12, 2008. He was at Smyth County Community Hospital in Marion, Va.
The Rev. French started his ministry in 1952 and had been pastor at Macedonia Freewill Baptist Church for many years. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns. He received the Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star and the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas George and Docie Bell French; wife, Elizabeth Taylor French; infant daughter, Brenda Elizabeth French; brother, George French; and infant brother, Billy Hugh French.
The Rev. French is survived by his son, Dennis French of Chilhowie; granddaughter, Tara Elizabeth Pruitt and husband Michael of Marion; three brothers, Robert M. French and wife Evelyn of Bel Air, Md., Eugene French and wife Ruby of Tannersville, Va., and Harold D. French and wife Sally of Malta, Ohio; six sisters, Ida Mae Taylor of Dry Fork, Va., Pauline Minton of Saltville, Va., Mabel Orr of Saltville, Betty Huffaker and husband Jake of Knoxville, Tenn., Kathleen Allison of York, Pa., and Sue Kinder and husband Henry of Tannersville; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for the Rev. French will be conducted at 8 p.m. Friday, March 14, 2008, at Henderson Funeral Home, with the Rev. David Neitch officiating. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Middle Fork Cemetery in Chilhowie. The family will receive friends from 5:30 until 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home prior to the service.
The men of the church will serve as pallbearers.
In leiu of flowers, donations may be made to Macedonia Freewill Baptist Church, P.O. Box 55, Saltville, VA 24370; or the American Cancer Society.
D.R. Henderson Funeral Home in Saltville is serving the family of the Rev. Kyle French.