James Leo “Buck” Monroe, Jr., age 82, of 1213 Tyler Avenue, Radford, and formerly of Clifton Forge, Virginia, died Saturday, December 24, 2016 at Carilion New River Valley Medical Center in Radford. Buck was born December 22, 1934 to the late James Leo Monroe, Sr. and Virginia Jordan Monroe. He was a retired Civil Engineer for Alliant Technologies at the Radford Ammunition Plant. He served eight years in the United States Airforce as Staff Sergeant and 1St Sergeant. He was a graduate of Dabney S. Lancaster Community College and was the last student to receive a degree from the Industrial Engineering curriculum. In his fifty years as an active volunteer firefighter, he served as an Adjunct Fire Instructor for Level III Department Fire Programs for twenty-five years. He was a life member of the Clifton Forge Fire Department, the Radford Fire and Rescue Department, the Southwest Firefighter Association, and the Virginia Firefighter’s Association, where he was an honoree in the Hall of Fame. He was also a former member of the Clifton Forge Elks Lodge # 1065 BPOE, a member of the American Legion Harvey-Howe Post 30, and Grove United Methodist Church in Radford. He enjoyed taking many mission trips through the church, and loved golfing, woodworking and hunting. In addition to his parents, Buck was preceded in death by a brother, William J. “Bill” Monroe. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Zicafoose Monroe of Radford; a daughter, Elizabeth Martin and husband Ken of Covington; four sons, James L. Monroe III and wife Tammy of Dublin, Edward L. Monroe and wife Anne of Cortland, OH, Kenneth A. Monroe of Cary, NC, and David N. Monroe and wife Rheta of Clemmons, NC; a brother, Robert N. “Bob” Monroe and wife Barbara of Midlothian; a sister-in-law, Polly D. Monroe of Clifton Forge; nine grandchildren, Chris Simmons, Nicki Simmons, Aaron Simmons, James L. Monroe IV, Dakota Monroe, Kenna Monroe, Paul Monroe, Laurel Monroe, and Izabella Moore; six great grandchildren, Dalton Simmons, Alexis Simmons, Paisley Simmons, Genevieve Simmons, Raylin Monroe, and Laura Moore; and a number of nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at 1:00 PM in the chapel of Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge with Reverend James L. Monroe III officiating. Interment will follow in Locust Bottom Cemetery, Botetourt County. Graveside military rites will be conducted by members of the Curtis A. Smith VFW Post 1033. Buck’s grandsons will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Grove United Methodist Church on Tyler Avenue in Radford, and also on Wednesday, from 11:00 AM until the time of service, at Nicely Funeral Home. The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to the Blacksburg United Methodist Church Mission Team, 111 Church Street S.E., Blacksburg, VA 24060.