Nuckols, Eugene Lambert

October 30, 1920 ~ April 19, 2013 The Honorable Eugene Lambert Nuckols, of Pulaski, departed this life on Friday, April 19, 2013. He was born on October 30, 1920, in Craddock, Va., to Dorsey B. and Myrtle Partlow Nuckols. He was one of six children. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his four brothers, Lewis, Norvell, Kenneth and Richard Nuckols. He was also preceded in death by his son, Randolph Bruce Nuckols; and by his beloved wife, “Ruthie” (Ruth Dickerson Nuckols). He is survived by his two daughters and their spouses, Nance N. Thompson and Carl, of Cortlandt Manor, N.Y., and Martha N. Moody and Rick, of Pulaski, Va. He is survived by three grandchildren, Christopher Gallimore, Stephen Thompson, and Deborah Thompson; and two great-granddaughters, Rayvn and Kithara. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Viers, of Radford; his sister-in-law, Edith D. Rider, of Connecticut; and numerous nieces and nephews. Gene, as he was known, came to Pulaski in the early 1950s, after graduating with honors from the University of Virginia (UVa) to practice law in the hometown of his bride, Ruth. He was a partner in the law firm of Crowell Nuckols Layman & Aust for over 50 years. He was also a retired Judge of the Juvenile & Domestics Relations Court, 27th Judicial district. Gene proudly served his country in World War II in the Army Air Corps as a navigator on a B17. Gene was a valued member of this community in so many ways. He was active in bringing the NAACP to the town; he served on the board of the American Red Cross; he served on the town council for a number of years; and he and Ruth were instrumental in starting the Fine Arts Center of the New River Valley. He was a past member of the Pulaski Jaycees and a past member of the Fraternal Order of the Elks. He was an avid weekend golfer in his younger days. He and his wife, Ruth were huge supporters of the Pulaski Daily Bread program and he spent many hours working and helping at the Daily Bread. He was very active in his church, the First Presbyterian Church, having been a Sunday school teacher, an elder, and was one of the founders of the Westminster Chapel, a branch of the First Presbyterian Church. In 2012, he made a donation of hand bells to the First Presbyterian Church in memory of his loving wife, Ruth. They both loved music and hand bells bring such joy. His love for this community and his church family was a cornerstone of his life. He saw the good in people that others may have overlooked. He was always willing to help others in need. As one family member said about Gene, “he reminds me of a character in a Norman Rockwell painting, as he was sort of the heart of what make small towns in America great. He was a leader with solid core values and he made important contributions to the lives of people in Pulaski.” He and his Ruthie loved to travel and did so for many years. He treasured all of his trips and loved the adventure of meeting new people, going new places and eating dishes in foreign places. They traveled to Northern Africa and to Europe many times. His favorite city was Paris, France. So much so, that he and Ruth spent their 50th wedding anniversary there. Above all, he was a wonderful father, brother, grandfather, husband to his sweet Ruthie and friend to so many, who will be dearly missed. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice ; to the First Presbyterian Church (for hand bells); to the Pulaski Daily Bread; or the American Red Cross. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, April 22, 2013, at Stevens Funeral Home. The service will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 23, 2013, at the First Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow the graveside service in the church fellowship hall. Arrangements by Stevens Funeral Home in Pulaski, Va., 540-980-2600.