Dr. Walter Lawrence "Bill" Floyd Sr.

1926 - 2017

BORN

1926

DIED

2017

Walter Floyd Obituary

Name: Memorial Gathering for Dr. Walter Lawrence "Bill" Floyd Sr.
Location: Lanier Village Estates

Dr. Walter Lawrence "Bill" Floyd, Sr.

Gainesville, GA

Dr. Walter Lawrence "Bill" Floyd, Sr., age 90 of Gainesville, GA and formerly of Durham, NC passed away on Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at Lanier Village Estates.

Memorial services will be held on Monday, October 2, 2017 at 11 AM in the Chapel of Lanier Village Estates with Chaplain Richard Evans officiating. The family will receive friends after the conclusion of the service. A private inurnment ceremony will be held at Gainesville First United Methodist Church.

Dr. Floyd was born December 15, 1926 in Asheville, NC to Henry Terrie Floyd and Nonnie Bailey Floyd. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, James Floyd. He served in the United States Navy in 1944-1946. Dr. Floyd was a retired Cardiologist and Emeritus Professor of Medicine at Duke University.

Dr. Floyd received his B.S. degree from Auburn University and his M.D. from Johns Hopkins University. After an internship in medicine at Johns Hopkins and a residency at Yale University, Dr. Floyd came to Duke in 1956, where he completed his residency and then served a fellowship in Cardiology. In his 40-year tenure at Duke, he was well-known as a skilled physician in clinical cardiology with a reputation for providing compassionate care to his patients and their families. In addition to his love of practicing medicine, he loved to teach. He was honored with the Duke Medical Housestaff Award for Excellence in Teaching and in 1990 was presented the Distinguished Teaching Award by the Alumni Association of the Duke University School of Medicine. In 1993, the Walter L. Floyd M.D. Endowed Fellowship in Cardiology was established. Today, that endowment funds the clinical fellowships in cardiology for young physicians that possess the caring qualities exhibited by Dr. Floyd throughout his life and career.

From 1976-1996, Dr. Floyd served on the Board of Trustees for Elon University where both his parents graduated. He established a scholarship fund there to honor his parents.

Dr. Floyd is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Helen Bruce Floyd of Gainesville, GA; son, Walter Lawrence Floyd, Jr. of Wetumpka, Alabama; son and daughter-in-law, David Bruce Floyd and Shannon Floyd of Atlanta; daughter, Elizabeth Ann Floyd of Cornelius, North Carolina; grandchildren, Camille Claire Floyd and William Joseph Floyd.

Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Road, Gainesville, GA 30504 is in charge of arrangements.

Send online condolences to www.memorialparkfuneral homes.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to: H. Terry and Nonnie B. Floyd Scholarship, Elon University, 2600 Campus Box, Elon, NC 27244, Attn: Patricia Burton, Director of Donor Relations Or Pruitt Health Hospice – Gainesville, 700 S. Enota Dr NE Ste 202, Gainesville, GA 30501.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Herald Sun on Oct. 1, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Walter Floyd

4 Entries

J. L. Trantham, M.D.

October 13, 2017

I am saddened to hear of Dr. Floyd's passing.

Dr. Floyd became my mentor in how to assess and treat patients when I was his Fellow during my training at Duke. To this day, when I see a new patient, I use the format of his note that I learned at his side.

In caring for patients, Dr. Floyd had the ability to 'see the whole picture', combining the entire spectrum of information, from the detailed, scientific, studies to the personal details of the patient and their family. I say 'patient' because he treated each patient individually and uniquely and always with the 'whole patient's' interests at the center.

As a Fellow in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, one of the most 'focused' sub-specialties of Cardiology, I came to Dr. Floyd as an example of one end of the 'spectrum'. He showed me the other end of the 'spectrum' and everything in between. He 'congealed' in me how to take care of patients.

I feel honored to have had the opportunity to have studied at his side and I recognize, and am grateful for, the life long impact he has had on my practice of medicine.

I can only hope that I have been able to incorporate those attributes when caring for my patients.

American Medicine has lost a great example of all that is good in medicine.

October 13, 2017

Dr. Floyd was a cardiologist's cardiologist, an exemplary clinician and a real gentleman. I will always remember the time I spent with him on the wards at Duke University Medical Center as an intern, resident and, later, as a cardiology fellow. I am indebted to him for sharing all his clinical skills with me and teaching me that 80% of diagnoses could be made by talking to our patients and examining them carefully.

Thank you Dr. Floyd!

Frank Navetta, MD FACC
Tyler, Texas
DUMC 1984-1990

Mary Olive Woodall

October 2, 2017

Dr. Floyd was my Daddy's cardiologist at Duke during the 1960s. He was a very kind and gentle physician. Always assuring that you understood what was happening. Our family was amazed when Dr. Floyd came to my Daddy's funeral 25 miles aways. Always a special man to us.

Joan McCracken

October 2, 2017

Dr. Floyd was one of the kindest physicians I ever encountered. It was not just his brilliant mind but his quiet demeanor that made him one of my heroes. He was both a friend and my physician. The world has lost one of the great ones. I remember when he first came to Duke and he took me under his wing....and then stayed by my side over the years through phone calls or mail. I am sad for your loss

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