At the Feet of Our Elders – Dr. Walter Claytor a man with a giving heart

The life of Dr. Walter Spears Claytor is one of sacrifice, dedication, resilience and courage. He was born on Dec. 18, 1925, at the North Jefferson Street, Roanoke home of his parents, Dr. John B. Claytor and Roberta Woodfin Claytor. Walter Claytor was one of eight children in a family that would make a great and lasting impact on the Roanoke community. Not only was his father a doctor, his brothers, too.

Roberta Claytor was a strong woman, who hosted gatherings and parties at their home, and the Claytor children would prepare, serve and clean up after each function. The gatherings were a Who’s Who of black Roanoke, especially blacks living in the Gainsboro community. The Claytor home was a 23room mansion at 406 North Jefferson Street. His grandfather, Frank Woodfin, and workers he brought to Roanoke from Bristol, Tennessee, built it. Dr. John Claytor was a prominent community figure in Roanoke and was one of the founding members of Burrell Memorial Hospital and the Cosmopolitan Company (real estate company). John Claytor built the Claytor Service Station and Claytor Clinic all in the block they owned.

Walter Claytor attended public schools in Tennessee while living with his grandparents. Upon returning to Roanoke, he attended Gainsboro Elementary, Harrison, and graduated from Lucy Addison High School in 1942. In 1942, he enrolled in Knoxville College finishing in 1944. He would then transfer to Tennessee Agricultural and Industrial University for two summer semesters. From there he enrolled at Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry, the first medical school built in the south for African Americans. He graduated with honors receiving his doctorate at the age of 22. He returned to Roanoke in 1948 and began practicing at Burrell Memorial Hospital serving as the clinician in the Dental Clinic for indigent children. Fresh out of school and having launched a career, Dr. Claytor’s dental practice was interrupted by military service. He followed his three older brothers – Frank, John Jr. and Ralph – into the armed forces. From 1951-53, Dr. Claytor served as Captain in the Alaskan Air Command. In May 1954, Walter Claytor would marry the love of his life, Eiko Kimura. Dr. Claytor and Eiko met while stationed in Alaska. Eiko was Japanese and a Lieutenant in the Air Force Nursing Corps. Dr Claytor and Eiko Claytor had three children – Kaye, David and Mark.

In 1957 after his military service, Dr. Claytor moved back to Roanoke and joined the Burrell Memorial Hospital board. He also began working out of the family’s Claytor Memorial Clinic. This is where Walter, two of his brothers and his father all had their office and medical practices. Dr. Walter Claytor prospered in a family of builders. He built the home in which he would rear his own family and he still resides there. Walter Claytor would go on to make great strides in the community, especially providing services to the black community during segregation. He served 14 years on the Burrell Memorial board and received accolades for his service. While serving as board chair, Walter Claytor worked to improve employee morale and to increase patient traffic. He received praise for accomplishing both.

In 1970, Gov. Linwood Holton appointed Dr. Claytor to the Virginian Board of Dental Examiners. He was the first black south of Washington to be honored with such a position. Due to family demands and the need to devote more time to his own dental practice, Dr. Claytor resigned as Burrell board chair on March 19, 1971.

Dr. Claytor has received many awards, honors and accolades, but it is my service to his family and community has been most important to him. He talks about the importance of families staying together and if possible working together as he, his brothers and father did. His father set the path to helping people in community and Dr. Walter Claytor followed. Both parents instilled him the importance of standing up for what’s right. Dr. Claytor sacrificed and dedicated his life to the Gainsboro community and to the Claytor legacy. At 92, he is someone we all can learn a valuable lesson – one of staying true to yourself and creating a legacy that will speak for itself. Legacy, dedication, sacrifice, family, community and love all are attributes that describe Dr. Walter Spears Claytor.