Lucile (Judy) and William (Bill) Gayle

Even though born and raised in the same neighborhood in Huntington, West Virginia, Judy and Bill Gayle graduated from different high schools and only vaguely knew each other when she enrolled in Marshall College in Huntington and he made his way to Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina.  Judy had enrolled in a medical technology program offered by Marshall, spending her final year at the Medical College of Virginia (MCV).   Bill, upon completing his undergraduate work in 1961, entered the Medical College of Virginia and these somewhat strangers suddenly found themselves becoming better acquainted as they rode back and forth between Richmond, Virginia, and Huntington, West Virginia, on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad.  They married in 1963.

Judy, upon graduation in 1962, went to work in the chemistry laboratory at MCV.  Bill, received his medical degree in 1965, and remained at MCV for a one-year internship, followed by five years in residency.  During this time, three children—Rick, Mary Beth, and Sarah-- joined the family.  Today, family gatherings include spouses Amy Gayle, Jon Sweet, Walter Price, and seven grandchildren.   Over the course of the births of the Gayle children, Judy changed first from full-time employment to part-time work and finally to full-time stay-at-home mom.   

In 1971, the Gayle family moved to Germany where Bill served in the United States Army for four years as a vascular and general surgeon.  Upon discharge, he accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Surgery at MCV and remained there until 1978.  At that time, the Gayles moved to Lynchburg where Bill joined a surgical practice that had been established by Drs. Stuart Harris and Jensie Teague.  

In 1987, when their youngest child reached the age of 16, Judy resumed working outside the home on a part-time basis in the chemistry lab at Centra Health.  With the arrival of the Gayles’ first grandchild, she retired in 1995.  Bill followed in 2001. 

Both Bill and Judy enjoy reading and engage in a number of other hobbies.   If not in his woodworking shop, Bill may be found gardening, walking, hiking, biking, or involved with one of the volunteer activities organized by his church.  Since February 2017, Bill has spent many hours on WC’s campus in the capacity of chair of the Board of Trustees and, as such, has been heavily involved in the planning, funding, and construction of the new health services building.

In addition to reading, a favorite indoor activity for Judy is knitting.  Like Bill, she enjoys being outdoors walking.  She also practices swimming and eagerly awaits being at WC and making frequent trips to the pool.