Allen M. Clague

July 28, 1929 - February 1, 2025

Dr. Allen M. Clague Jr. passed away on February 1, 2025, in the Bridgewater Home at the age of 95 after a cascade of setbacks from a broken hip. Born in the rural community of Fruitdale, Alabama in 1929, he began his education in a two-room schoolhouse and later moved to Mobile where he attended Murphy high school which even then had several thousand students. Along the way he had many jobs which made him a prolific worker with multiple skills. He decided to commit his life to medicine at a very young age after being impressed with the healing capability of its science.

He attended Bridgewater College where he met and married his first wife, Juanita (Pat) Simmons. They were married for 40 years, and she died in an automobile accident. From Bridgewater College, which he continued to support until his death, he went to the Medical College of Virginia and earned his degree in 1959. He started a practice in Kingsport Tennessee after his internship, which continued later in Roanoke Virginia. He later joined Lewis-Gale Clinic for his first career of 30 years.

After "retiring", he moved to Bridgewater and joined practice with Rufus Huffman until he "retired" again and moved to Hendersonville, North Carolina in 1994. There he became an advocate for people who could not afford medications and worked with pharmaceutical companies to provide them free of charge.

After returning to the Valley in 1999, he practiced at the Free Clinic and maintained his license until he was 86 years old. Though he let his license lapse at that point, he never quit thinking and behaving like a doctor whose skills had included diagnostician, minor surgery, delivering babies, and making house calls.

From the 1990s and until his injury he also supported disadvantaged children in other countries, along with his second wife Naoma who preceded him in death. Through their continued support and education of one of their adoptees, Jane Namugga of Uganda, became the first oncological obstetrician in the country. The clinic she started there was named the Allen Clague Clinic.

Dr. Clague was also fortunate to have two offspring, Allen III and Linda. The family expanded with the marriage of Allen to Susan (Lerch), who had two children, Allen IV and Lauren, now married to Chad Simmers. Chad and Lauren have two children, Ari in 2020, and Abi, born in December 2024. Besides these children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, he is survived by many nieces and nephews.

There are many reasons why Dr. Clague will be remembered. He was a very caring and kind individual, who showed sensitivity and empathy for others. Over the many years of treating illness and injury he developed skills and diagnostic ability far above the norm. His ability to raise azaleas, rhododendrons, and a multiplicity of floral plants was of the highest level of competence. He always showed respect to all living creatures and maintained that they too have their own intelligence which is often taken for granted. His extended family will always treasure his insights on life and the intensity with which he lived. He will be forever missed. Services will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to Bridgewater Retirement Community Foundation, 302 North Second St., Bridgewater, VA 22812, or Bridgewater College, 402 East College St., Box 33, Bridgewater, VA, 22812, or Bridgewater Church of the Brethren, 420 College View Dr., Bridgewater, VA 22812, or Interfaith, I Am IAM, PO Box 2562 Hendersonville, NC 28793-2562.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at johnsonfs.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Johnson Funeral and Cremation Service in Bridgewater, Virginia.