The Shadow
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CLIFTON FORGE – A community leader and long-time physician who touched the lives of countless Alleghany Highlands residents has died.
Wallace Clay Nunley, Sr. M.D., 91, of 3 Ingalls Street, Clifton Forge, died Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013, at his home, with his family by his side.
Dr. Nunley was born July 28, 1921 in Smoot, W.Va., son of the late Ralph Garland and Jennie Irene Bennett Nunley.
Being a physician was a dream Dr. Nunley held, even as a child in the third grade. His early education included schools in Meadow Creek, W.Va., Quinwood, W.Va., Verona and Crawley, W.Va., which was a two room school house that is still standing today.
He graduated from Rainelle High School, then worked for three years to earn enough money to begin his freshman year at Hampden-Sydney College in Farmville, graduating with honors in 1944.
That same year, he began his medical studies at the University of Virginia, receiving his degree in 1948. He then entered the residency program at the University of Virginia, finishing in 1950.
For the first 10 years of his career, he was both family practitioner and obstetrician in Rupert, W.Va.
In 1959, Dr. Nunley moved his practice and his family to Clifton Forge and continued to serve the community for 31 years.
During the span of his career, he made countless house calls, saw thousands of patients, and delivered over 6,000 babies. He touched many lives throughout his medical practice, but was active in the community in many other ways.
His medical memberships included the Virginia Academy of Family Practice, the American Academy of Family Practice, the Alleghany-Bath Medical Society (Past President), the Virginia Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the Fellow Academy of Family Practice, and the Alleghany Regional Hospital staff, where he served as Past President of Medical Staff, was chairman of numerous hospital committees and was on the Alleghany Regional Hospital Board.
Following the sale of the hospital to HCA, he continued to serve on the board of The Alleghany Foundation, which has since provided millions of dollars in grants to numerous organizations in the Highlands, making a difference in the lives of so many area residents.
He was a member of the Board of Directors of the former Mountain National Bank in Clifton Forge and Colonial American Bankshares Corporation, where he was vice chairman of the board, chairman of the Executive Committee, and chairman of the Long-Range Planning Committee.
His civic memberships included the Rupert, W.Va., Rotary Club from 1952 to 1959, the Covington-Hot Springs Rotary Club from 1972 to 2012, and the University of Virginia Student Aid Foundation Board from 1981 to 1989.
Dr. Nunley was raised in the Rainelle Masonic Lodge in 1944, and continued to have a very active Masonic history throughout his life in Clifton Forge; Clifton Forge Masonic Lodge No. 166 A.F. & A.M., Roanoke Scottish Rite Bodies, Kazim Temple A.A.O.N.M.S. (Kazim Temple Divan 1982 and Past Potentate 1989), Clifton Forge Shrine Club, Hot Springs Shrine Club (Past President 1987), South Atlantic Shrine Association (Past President), and Roanoke Court No. 59 Royal Order of Jesters (Past Director). He was also a member of the Clifton Forge Elks Lodge B.P.O.E 1065, the Clifton Forge Coffee Club, and Central United Methodist Church.
In his free time, he enjoyed golfing and watching any sporting events, and was an avid supporter of the University of Virginia sports program.
His generosity to the people and organizations he so loved will never be forgotten.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Anna Nunley Alderson.
He is survived by his wife, Marguerite Maddex Nunley of Clifton Forge; a son, Dr. Wallace C. Nunley, Jr. and wife Donna of Charlottesville; a daughter, Carolyn Sue Nunley Wilkinson and husband Howard of Barhamsville; four grandchildren, Wallace Clay Nunley III and wife Tara of Lynchburg, Hunter Ryan Nunley of Newport News, Howard Preston Wilkinson III and wife Melissa of Glen Allen, and Katherine Clay King and husband Jamie of Glen Allen; four great grandchildren, Michael James King, Carson Clay King, Howard Preston “Trip” Wilkinson IV, and Landon Hunter Nunley; numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces; and a host of friends, including Shriners, Elks, and other friends throughout the Alleghany Highlands.
Special appreciation goes to Dr. James Ballou for his compassionate care, to the Clifton Forge Rescue Squad, to Regional Home Care and Mountain Regional Hospice, and especially to the many caregivers who assisted him over the years, and more recently, specifically Pam Douglas and Phyllis Church.
A funeral service will be conducted on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Central United Methodist Church, Clifton Forge with the Rev. Ned Alderman and Mr. James David Williams officiating.
Masonic rites will be presented at the church by members of the Clifton Forge Masonic Lodge No. 166 A.F. & A.M.
The family will receive friends on Friday evening from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge.
Entombment will take place on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Monticello Memorial Gardens Mausoleum in Charlottesville.
Active pallbearers will be Jamie King, Clay Nunley, Ryan Nunley, Preston Wilkinson, Harvey Burns, and Herbert Sams.
Honorary pallbearers will be Hank Via, George Kostel, Benny Albright, Jim Eller, Tommy Slusser, Terry Slaughter, Jim Snyder, Bruce Profitt, Glenn Jones, Glenn Perry, Charlie Kahle, Tom Dean, Tom Dunkenberger, Buck Rumpf, Raymond Claterbaugh, Roy Putnam and Carl Brinkley.
Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge is in charge of arrangements.
The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to one of the following; the Kazim Temple Transportation Fund, c/o James Eller, 1201 Crestwood Avenue, Clifton Forge, Va., 24422, the Central United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 16, Clifton Forge, Va., 24422, or the Clifton Forge Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 419, Clifton Forge, Va., 24422.
To send condolences to the family online, please visit www.nicelyfuneralhome.com.
