Dan was born January 20, 1951 and is the youngest son of the late Leslie Ray French, Jr. and Juanita Williams French. He leaves behind his wife of 23 years, Amy French; his son Robert Christopher “Chris” French; daughter Lisa French Wixted and son-in-law Tom Wixted; grandchildren, John, Elizabeth, Levi and Sawyer; and his brother Leslie Ray French, III.
Trained as a Biologist, he was enlivened by the wonders of the outdoors and our natural environment. An avid swimmer, skin diver and scuba diver in his youth, he saw his career in water and wastewater utilities as a tool to help protect both the local aquatic environment and public health. He was drawn to public service and believed his work and that of those he worked with made a positive difference.
He was grateful for the opportunity to assist the Amherst County Board of Supervisors in establishing the County’s Watershed Protection Districts and the Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area. Having instructed hundreds of college classes in “Water Purification” and “The Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants”, he enjoyed sharing his experiences and giving back to the future of his profession.
A gathering to honor the life of Dan French will be held at the Coolwell Recreation Center from 2 to 4 p.m., Friday, September 10, 2021.
Masks and social distancing are highly encouraged.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be offered to any of the following causes, Neighbors Helping Neighbors of Amherst County, www.nhnamherst.org, Protect Hanover, www.protecthanover.com, and WVTF Public Radio, www.wvtf.org.
