FRANKLIN—A country road may be taking them home to the place they belong.

Dr. Chris Stansbury has sold his Franklin optometry practice in order to eventually move his family back to their home state of West Virginia.

“We’re in flux right now, but that’s our eventual goal,” Stansbury said Tuesday morning.

Dr. Dylan Belt, who previously worked at a practice in Albany, Ga., has purchased the practice and began setting up shop there last week. The staff and equipment at the office on Second Avenue will remain in place.

Belt said he wanted to open his own practice and liked Franklin’s small-town feel and proximity to bigger cities.

“It’s the best of both worlds,” he said. Belt said he has rented a small apartment in town and his wife, Erin, will eventually join him here.

“Once things get settled here, we’ll bring her up permanently,” he said.

While in practice in Georgia, Belt focused much of his time on ocular disease, in addition to prescribing contact lenses and glasses.

“He’s a good fit here because we do have quite a bit of diabetic eye disease and glaucoma,” Stansbury said.

Stansbury, who bought the practice in 2005, said he wanted to stress to the thousands of patients who have come through his doors that he is leaving their care in good hands.

“We’re excited to sell the practice to a smart guy and a great doctor,” he said. “Patients can be assured that they will be getting the same high level of care.”

Stansbury and his wife, Amber, have a 16-month-old son named Grant and are members of Franklin Baptist Church.

“This move is bittersweet,” he said “We will miss all of the friends we have made here, but we’re excited to eventually get closer to our families.”

An open house to introduce the community to Dr. Belt and say goodbye to Dr. Stansbury will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at the office, located at 108 W. Second Ave.