William Bailey Biggs D.D.S.

BIGGS William Bailey Biggs, D.D.S., 91, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 30, 2011. Born in Dickenson County, Virginia on February 7, 1920, Bill was a long time resident of Athens, Ohio. He spent the past year living with his daughter and son-in-law in Upper Arlington. He practiced dentistry in Athens from 1948 until 2010. Preceded in death by his parents John H. Biggs and Eva Bailey Biggs. Bill was blessed with two wonderful marriages. He was preceded in death by his wife of 44 years Elizabeth Wood, and his second wife of 12 years Jean Sawyer Beckley, brother Dr. John H. Biggs, Jr. and sister Louisa Mackey. He is survived by brother, Robert (Charlotte) Biggs of Newport News, VA.; children, Rebecca Wood (Theodore) Uritus, Upper Arlington, Dr. William Bailey (Barbara) Biggs Jr., Sylvania, OH, and Marghretta ("Peg") (Michael) Smith, Sylvania; grandchildren, William Bailey (Jill) Biggs, III, Scott Bradley (Jessica) Biggs, and Ami Lynn (P.J.) Johnson, all from Sylvania, Amy (Joshua) Corna, Upper Arlington, Matthew (Erin) Uritus, Upper Arlington, Marghretta Wood (Troy) Zimpfer, Dublin, OH, Theodore A. Uritus, Upper Arlington, Zachary Smith, Atlanta, GA, and Peter Smith, Sylvania. He is survived by step-daughters, Amy (Ernest) Williams, Westerville, Ellen (Edward) Yen, New Albany, Melissa Pippen, Westerville, Molly (David) Cline, Worthington, step-grandchildren, Jamie (Eric) Myers, Gahanna, Shane and Kyle Williams, Aaron, Lauren and Peter Yen, Rachel and Harrison Jones, and Morgan, Tommy and Teddy Cline. He is also survived by sixteen great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. A 1942 graduate of Ohio University, Bill was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II where he received a Commendation for Meritorious Service for participating in chemical warfare experiments. Following his service he graduated from St. Louis University where he received his D.D.S. in 1948. After setting up his dental practice in Athens he was called back into service as a Captain in the U. S. Air Force during the Korean War. He returned to Athens where he was active in Rotary, Green and White Club (served as President), Symposia and Athens Country Club. Bill served his community well throughout many years of volunteer work. An active member of St Paul's Catholic Church, he served as a Eucharistic Minister, was a member of the St. Francis Society and assisted St. Vincent DePaul Society in delivering food to the poor throughout Athens County. He was a founding member of the Athens Pregnancy Resource Center where he devoted many hours in supporting the cause of the unborn. Bill will be remembered for his great sense of humor, his love of the game of golf, and for his fidelity to living his life by the highest of moral principles. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends who all revered him. Mass of Christian Burial, presided by Msgr. Patrick E. Gaughn, will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 4, at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 38 North College St. in Athens, OH. Burial will be in West Union Street Cemetery in Athens. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 3 from 5-7 p.m. with a vigil service at 4:45 p.m. at HUGHES-MOQUIN FUNERAL HOME. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Vincent DePaul Society, 38 North College St., Athens, OH 45701 or Pregnancy Resource Centers of Athens County, 43 A South Court Street, Athens, OH 45701. You may send the family a message of sympathy at www. hughesmoquinfuneralhome.com