Gregory, Carlyle

Dr. Carlyle Gregory, 87, of Blacksburg, died on Wednesday, February 15, 2012. Dr. Gregory was born in the Sago community in Franklin County, Virginia on December 26, 1924, and attended a one room school in that area through the 6th grade. His family then moved to Rocky Mount, where he graduated from Rocky Mount High School in 1942. Dr. Gregory completed one semester at Roanoke College before entering the U.S. Navy on February 24, 1943. While in service, he attended several service schools and obtained the rank of Quartermaster First Class Petty Officer. Dr. Gregory served aboard the battleship USS Wyoming based in Norfolk, the USS U8, and at Camp Farragut in Idaho just prior to the end of World War II. Dr. Gregory’s division officer aboard the USS Wyoming recommended him for officer candidate school to become a line officer and he was sent to the University of Mississippi for four years of college training under the Navy’s V-12 officer training program, entering as a freshman in 1945. There, he was a member of the Naval ROTC Unit and received an honorable discharge from the Navy in 1946. During his time at Ole Miss, he met his future bride Charlotte Richardson, of Belzoni, Mississippi, and they were married on February 15, 1948. She remained his beloved wife for almost 53 years, until she passed away in January 2001, and was the mother of their four sons, Stanley, Carlyle, John and James. Dr. Gregory graduated from Ole Miss with a B.S. in Chemistry in August 1948. He was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and later became a Life Loyal Sig. After graduation, he entered the Medical College of Virginia’s School of Dentistry in Richmond, Virginia, which conferred upon him his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1952. While at MCV, he joined the Psi Omega national dental education fraternity. Dr. Gregory, Charlotte and their then two young sons, Stan and Carlyle, moved to Blacksburg in June 1952, where he began his practice of general dentistry. They subsequently had two more sons – John and James (Jay). Dr. Gregory would continue his dental practice for almost 54 years, retiring in 2006. During his years of practice, Dr. Gregory was a member of the New River Dental Study Club, the Southwest Virginia Dental Society, the Virginia State Dental Society, and the American Dental Association. He was also a member of the Montgomery Regional Hospital Courtesy Staff for over 30 years. Active in many areas of civic life, Dr. Gregory participated in the Cub Scout program with his children and was an organizer and supporter of the band boosters program at Blacksburg High School during the 1960s. He was an active member of the Christiansburg-Blacksburg Rotary Club for 58 years, serving terms as secretary and president, and was a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and a Bill Skelton Fellow. He also served as member and president (1960) of the Chamber of Commerce, and received the Blacksburg Junior Chamber of Commerce’s Distinguished Service Award in 1961. Dr. Gregory served for eight years on the Blacksburg Town Council, taking up the position of vice mayor for two of those years. He was also a member of the Blacksburg Planning Commission for eight years. He sat on the Advisory Board of a local bank (initially the Farmers and Merchants Bank and later the First National Exchange Bank) for over 30 years. In his spare time, Dr. Gregory enjoyed hunting and fishing with his children and followed and supported Virginia Tech athletics. An astute investor and businessman, he enjoyed following the stock and real estate markets. An avid gardener as well, he grew many of the beautiful flowers his wife, Charlotte, used in her arrangements, and often bounteous quantities of fruits and vegetables. He was also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, Fincastle Resolutions Chapter. After his children were grown, Dr. Gregory became an enthusiastic traveler, visiting many countries around the world. He married Margaret Brown of Blacksburg in 2004, who accompanied him on those journeys in later years. Dr. Gregory was preceded in death by his parents Grady W. Gregory and Pearl Oakes Gregory, of Rocky Mount, Virginia and by his first wife Charlotte Gregory. He is survived by his wife Margaret Brown Gregory, currently residing at Wheatlands Nursing Home in Christiansburg, his four sons and their wives: Stanley and Vicki Gregory of Montgomery Alabama, Carlyle and Margaret Gregory of Falls Church, Virginia, John and Karin Gregory of Blacksburg, Virginia and James and Lisa Gregory of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Dr. Gregory loved practicing dentistry every day and was proud to serve people from all over southwest Virginia. He was especially thankful for the able support of Mrs. Joyce Oliver, who worked with him as his dental assistant for over 40 years. The family wishes to express many thanks to Dr. Richard Shepherd, Dr. Harry McCoy and his nurses and staff, Dr. Jey-Dea Chung and Dr. David Stoeckle. Also special thanks to Mrs. Jeanny Carter and her care-giving ladies and to the Lewis-Gale hospital and staff for all they did for Dr. Gregory during his illness. Funeral services will be held at the Blacksburg United Methodist Church at 11:00AM on Monday, February 27th with the Rev. Reginald D. Tuck officiating. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4:00PM on Sunday, February 26th, at McCoy’s Funeral Home in Blacksburg. The family requests that donations be made in Dr. Gregory’s memory to the American Cancer Society, the Alzheimer’s Association and the United Methodist Church of Blacksburg