Wilmer Benford (W.B.) Nolen

Wilmer Benford (W.B.) Nolen, Sr., 86, of Forest, VA, passed from this life to eternal life on January 5, 2025, after nearly a year long stay at Heritage Green Memory Care. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mary Blackwell Nolen. Born June 27, 1938, in Bassett, VA, he was the only child of the late Arthur Benford Nolen and Elizabeth LaPrade Nolen.

Left to remember him, in addition to their mother, are a son, Wilmer Benford Nolen, Jr (Linette) of Glen Allen, VA and a daughter, Heather Marie Nolen of Forest, VA. Also surviving him are two grandsons, Benjamin Howard Nolen and his fiancée, Anna Bertino, of Boones Mill, VA and Gary Anderson Nolen of Glen Allen, VA. Additionally, Sisters-in-law Nancy Jane Shank, Roanoke, Va.; Ileda Velma Shelor, Floyd, Va; Catherine Louise Hall, Christiansburg, Va.; Patricia Page Blackwell, Christiansburg, Va.; and Kathy Boyd Blackwell, Floyd, Va. Predeceasing him were Brothers-in-law Richard Miles Shank, Jr., Floyd, Va.; Frank Jefferson Shelor, Floyd, Va.; Thomas Lee Hall, Christiansburg, Va.; Rev. James Robert Blackwell, Floyd, Va.; Kenneth Williams Blackwell, Floyd, Va.; and Sister-in-law Hazel Marie Hylton Blackwell, Floyd, Va. Additionally, W.B. is survived by many other relatives and friends.

W.B. was educated in Henry County Public Schools, at Bridgewater College, and at Virginia Tech where he earned an Engineering degree in 1961. As a lifelong member of the Church of the Brethren, he joined Brethren Volunteer Service and served two years on assignments in Central America and Haiti. While in Haiti, he learned the Haitian Creole language and assisted the Haitian people doing “pick and shovel engineering” (his term) which was well digging, road building, and surveying to divide land. He loved the profession of Engineering and before establishing his own firm, Nolen Frisa Associates of Forest, VA he worked for Hayes, Seay, Mattern and Mattern (1963-1969) in Roanoke VA and Wiley and Wilson in Lynchburg, VA (1969-1978).

The family wants to thank the staff at Heritage Green for the care they provided to W.B. as he lived out his life and to Centra Hospice for its care and support during his transition.

A celebration of W.B.’s life will be conducted at Lynchburg Church of the Brethren, 200 Atlanta Ave., Lynchburg, VA 24502, on January 18, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. with a visitation prior to the service, starting at 11:00 a.m.

If you wish to make a memorial gift, please consider Lynchburg Church of the Brethren or Brethren Volunteer Service.

Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.