The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE – Doctor and Mrs. Wallace C. Nunley celebrated their 65th Wedding Anniversary on January 3rd, 2012.
They were married January 3, 1947, in Roanoke by the Rev. James Landon Maddex, Mrs. Marguerite Nunley’s brother.
They celebrated with their children, son Wally and wife, Donna; their children, Clay and wife Tara and sons Landon and Ryan. Also their daughter Carolyn and husband Howard Wilkinson and their children Preston Wilkinson and his wife Melissa, who are expecting their first child in March and Katherine King and husband James, and their two sons Michael and Carson.
Doctor Nunley was Potentate of the Kazim Temple in Roanoke in 1989 and 1992 became the first president from Virginia of the South Atlantic Shrine Association in Tampa, Fla.
One of Dr. Nunley’s favorite organizations is the Clifton Forge Shrine Club, which named the dining hall at the Shrine Club “Nunleys Hall,” in his honor. He has been a faithful member when his health will allow. He also worked for about 10 years to advance through the different positions to become Potentate for the Kazim Temple.
He also worked hard for the local children that needed the service free of charge from the Shriners Hospitals, where no child is ever turned away. Nunley has worked with several local children to get them admitted to a Shriners Hospital.
He is active also in the Clifton Forge Masonic Lodge No. 166 when his health allows. He is a faithful member of the Clifton Forge Elks Lodge and also an avid supporter of the University of Virginia sports teams. He also donated funds to establish a chair at the University of Virginia.
Dr. Wallace Clay Nunley, Sr., celebrated his 90th birthday July 28, 2011 at his home in Clifton Forge with his wife, Marguerite Nunley, and members of his family.
Doctor Nunley was born in Smoot, W.Va., July 28, 1921, graduated from Rainelle High School, Hampden Sydney College, and University of Virginia. Nunley started his practice as a doctor in Rupert, W. Va., where he was the only doctor in the community.
In his ten years of practice there he delivered 2,000 babies at their homes and three sets of twins.
He practiced in Clifton Forge for 31 years.
Being a doctor was a dream he held even as a child. When he was asked when he knew he wanted to go into medicine, he said in the third grade.
Many years later, after graduating from high school, he worked for three years to make enough money to begin his freshman year at Hampden-Sydney College in Farmville.
He made profound impressions as a young student and as a result, his tuition for both colleges and U.Va. Medical School was generously paid by an anonymous individual who saw a very gifted, talented person, according to his daughter, Carolyn Wilkinson.
During Dr. Nunley’s medical career, he made numerous house calls, saw thousands of patients and delivered over 6,000 babies.
Carolyn Wilkinson said that not only has the community received so much from her dad, but their family has been so blessed to have moved to Clifton Forge.
Doctor Nunley not only touched many lives with his doctoring but he also took a very active part in the affairs of Clifton Forge.
He was on the board of Alleghany Regional Hospital when it was sold to HCA and then joined the board of the Alleghany Foundation.
This nonprofit foundation took the money from the sale of the hospital and over the years has provided millions in grants to numerous organizations in the Highlands, making a difference in the lives of so many people in the Highlands.
The community and the Alleghany Highlands wish Dr. Wallace Clay Nunley, Sr.and wife Marguerite a happy 65th wedding anniversary and thank him for what he has contributed with his wife Marguerite to the area.
