Obituary of Herman Wallace Brubaker

Herman Wallace Brubaker, a 60-year resident of Roanoke County, went to be with his Lord and Savior on 4/12/2018, at 1:10 am at the age of 93, surrounded at home by immediate family. Born in Callaway, Virginia, on 12/31/1924, he graduated Valedictorian of Callaway High School, received his Bachelor’s degree from Bridgewater College in 1949, and his M.D. degree from Medical College of Virginia in 1953.

In 1951 he married Hazel Flinchum from Roanoke. Following internship and one year of internal medicine residency at Lewis-Gale Hospital from 1953-1955, he served one year with the United States Public Health Service as Sr. Assistant Surgeon in New York City and one year as Chief of USPHS Clinic in Pittsburgh, PA. After working in the Floyd County Clinic in 1957, he built the Boxley Hill Clinic where he practiced Family Medicine until retirement in June, 2004.

As a life-long member of Williamson Road Church of the Brethren he served as Deacon, Board Member, and Sunday school teacher. A member of the Williamson Road Lions Club, he served as president on several occasions, received the Lion of the Year Award (1972), the Melvin Jones Fellow Award for Dedicated Humanitarian Services from the Lions Club International Foundation (2002), and the President’s Award in Recognition of Outstanding Service (2017).

Having served on the Board of Friendship Health and Living Community for many years, he was honored to have the Lunch Room named after him.

Medical affiliations include the Roanoke Academy of Medicine (past Secretary), the American Medical Association, Life Member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Virginia Academy of Family Physicians (past Director of the Blue Ridge Academy of Family Practice), and Assistant Chief of the Medical Department at Community Hospital. Maintaining Board certification with the American Board of Family Medicine, he was among the first to achieve this distinction after formation of the ABFM.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 48 years Hazel Flinchum Brubaker, parents Alva Odos and Edith Clingenpeel Brubaker, brother Lowell Brubaker, brother-in-law Elbert Milliron, and step-son Jeffrey Beckner.

He is survived by his wife Elizabeth Humbert Brubaker of Roanoke (married 2004), sister Letha Brubaker Milliron (Roanoke), sister-in-law Ivy Rose Brubaker (Callaway), sons, H. Wallace Brubaker, Jr. (Susan Miller) of Chambersburg, PA, and Donald R. Brubaker (Gayle Fike) of Charlottesville, VA, step-children Julie Humbert Beckner of Troutville, VA, and William Humbert of Troutville, VA, along with 6 grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren, and 4 great-grandsons.

He enjoyed traveling, reading, spectator sports, and especially time spent with family.

Funeral services will be held at Williamson Road Church of the Brethren, 3110 Pioneer Road, NW Roanoke on Saturday, 4/21/18, at 11 a.m. The family will receive friends Friday, April 20, 2018 from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at Simpson Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions to Williamson Road Church of the Brethren or Friendship Health and Living Community in Herman’s name. Arrangements by Simpson Funeral Home. (540)366-0707.