Friends, staff and patients celebrate Dr. Allison’s 80th birthday

When Warrenton dentist Will Allison first opened his practice on Culpeper Street in 1962, he never set out to work into his 80s, but now he couldn’t imagine doing anything else — even on his birthday.

The Fauquier native, who turned 80 on Dec. 19, celebrated life with a quiet gathering of staff, family, and friends following his usual half day at the office Monday.

“I love dentistry and therefore, for me, it is a great joy to be able to have the health to continue to practice,” he said.

“It’s an art form and in it you’re able to help people, but you’re also involved in the aesthetics and function, all of which I enjoy,” he said.

Allison, who was born to Luther and Marian Allison in 1931 at their Falmouth Street home, was preceded in the dentistry profession by both his grandfather and two uncles, one of whom with which he shared a birthday.

“I was always told that I should be a dentist,” he said. “It started as something that was assumed, but I also enjoyed the biological sciences in school.”

The youngest of three, Allison followed his brother Luther and sister Marion, also known as Mazie, in graduating from Warrenton High School in 1949.

Allison went on to study biology at Virginia Military Institute, graduating in 1953 and transferring to the Medical College of Virginia’s Dental School.

“Almost all of my classmates were going into medicine, and I considered it, but I chose family dentistry instead, and I’ve never regretted it,” he said.

Between his undergraduate studies and dental school, Allison married his first wife, Katherine, known to many as “Kay” who passed away in 1993.

The two moved to Germany together to complete Allison’s four years of military service in the Army at a base hospital in Heidelberg, Germany.

His time away traveling only reinforced his desire to return to Warrenton.

“I realized that my hometown had all the things I wanted,” he said. “It was close to the city where there was culture, and, more importantly, there were horses here, and I wanted to ride and foxhunt.”

The appeal of a small southern town where a slow pace was as prevalent as a quick smile suited him well.

“Before the bypass was built, all the traffic came through the little center of town, and on Saturdays, traffic would inch through town because all the farmers had come into town and everyone was talking to each other,” he said. “There were beautiful trees along Main Street that formed a canopy and kept the sun off.”

“Everyone was so friendly,” he said. “No house was ever locked and everybody’s front door was literally open,” he said.

When he returned in June 1962, his office building of 49 years had just been completed. He left the Army and settled down as a dentist the same month.

Colleagues describe Allison, who once served as president of the Virginia Dental Association, as a well-respected professional in both state and national dentistry circles.

Even now, patients and coworkers regard his work as excellent, and his schedule is often booked solid on Mondays and Fridays, which have been his part-time days since selling the practice to his associate Dr. Robert Flikeid in 1997.

Multiple generations continue to use Allison as their dentist.

“His hand couldn’t be any steadier and he couldn’t be any more caring and he enjoys it,” said Anne Durbin, who has worked with Allison since he hired her as his first dental hygienist in 1973. “When you have good health and your mind’s great, stick with it.”

Friends call Allison a genuine, polite, Virginia gentleman “who is nice to everybody.”

Allison’s dental assistant, Ashley Ahearn, just graduated from nursing school, but plans to work nights in order to remain with Allison as his assistant.

“He’s been a true inspiration in my life, and I’m going to stay with him until the day he retires,” she said.

“Will’s opinion is very much respected in the community and he’s well thought of,” said John Turner, a retired radiologist and long-time friend of Allison.

When he’s not working, the former master of the Warrenton Hunt spends several days a week at the Virginia Gold Cup Association office, where he serves as the organization’s president.

“I like to stay active,” he said. “It makes for full weeks.”

He and his wife Christina, who he married in 1995, often travel abroad to visit her family in Europe.

From Rotary Club, to church, to the golf course and traveling the world, Allison focuses on staying active and eating well in order to keep up with life.

“I’ve been blessed with good genetics, but I have also been a fanatic in a way about exercise and aerobic health,” he said.

In addition to adhering to a largely Mediterranean diet, Allison continues to exercise and stretch an hour a day to stay fit.

“I never did it with the intention of living longer,” he said. “I did it with the intention of functioning at 100 percent every day.”

He plans to keep practicing as long as his health remains sound.

As for next year’s goal, Allison hopes to shoot his age in golf.

“Everybody dreams of that,” he said with a smile. “I’ve shot 80 this past spring, so I hope I’ve got another 80 left in me.”