N. Carl Wessinger

CLINTON - Dr. N. Carl Wessinger, retired Clinton dentist, husband of Barbara Owen Wessinger, passed away on February 18, 2011 at Lexington Medical Center.

He was born April 25, 1928, the son of Norman L. and Hattie W. Wessinger, in McDowell County, North Carolina, where his parents taught school. He grew up in Springfield, S.C., and attended public school there.

Dr. Wessinger was a 1950 graduate of Clemson College with a two-year interruption for service in the U.S. Army. Following graduation he joined Owens-Corning Fiberglass in Anderson as a management trainee and cost accountant and was later employed as an Admissions Counselor at Clemson University. He received the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the School of Dentistry, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, in 1958.

Dr. Wessinger practiced General Dentistry in Clinton, S.C., for 43 years, retiring in 2001. He was quite active in his profession. He served on the Board of Governors of the Piedmont District Dental Society 1971-1981, was Secretary 1969-1971, President 1971 and editor of the newsletter 1971-1981. He was founding editor of the South Carolina Dental Association's newsletter, The SCDA Bulletin, and served in that capacity from 1973 to 1981. He was secretary-treasurer of the SCDA from 1981 to 1986 and was an alternate delegate from South Carolina to the American Dental Association's House of Delegates from 1981-1986. He was a delegate from 1987-1998 and delegate chairman 1987-1988. He was on the ADA Commission on Relief Fund Activities in Chicago 1991-1998 and was chairman in 1998. He was a member of the S.C. Board for Delta Dental Insurance and acted in that capacity for many years.

In service to the public, Dr. Wessinger was a member of the S.C. State Board of Dentistry, 1984-1990, and was president in 1988. He was the Laurens County professional representative on the Three Rivers Health Agency Executive Committee, on the Greenville TEC Advisory Board, and on the advisory committee of the S.C. Office of Public Health Dentistry. He was a former member of the Clinton Lions Club, President in 1967, and named Citizen of the Year in 1981. For over 50 years he was a Laurens County representative of Clemson's IPTAY Association, emeritus representative, and former county chairman. He was a member of the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce, the Laurens County Touchdown Club, and a founder of the Clinton Cotillion Club.

He was a member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, served a number of terms on the Church Council and Finance Committee and was Sunday School superintendent.

Dr. Wessinger was awarded the prestigious George P. Hoffman Distinguished Dentist Award by the South Carolina Dental Association in 1990, and was chosen an honorary life member of the SCDA House of Delegates in 1991. He was a Fellow in the American Academy of General Dentistry and former state chapter president, a Fellow in the Fauchard Academy, a Fellow in the American College of Dentists and a Fellow in the International College of Dentists.

In addition to his wife of 56 years, Dr. Wessinger is survived by four children: Dr. Derek Wessinger and wife, Jean, of Gray Court; Karen W. Carroll, Esq., and husband, David, of Richmond, Virginia; Dr. Kevin Wessinger and wife, Jodie, of Columbia; and Brian Wessinger of the home. He often stated that his greatest accomplishment in life was being one of the parents of "the finest children in the world." Also surviving are a sister, Margaret Woeber, of Satellite Beach, Florida, and ten grandchildren: Rebecca Wessinger of Charleston, Jessica Wessinger of Greenville, and Jennifer and Emily Wessinger of Gray Court; Will Carroll and wife, Kimberly, of Raleigh, N.C.; Katie , Daniel, and Ben Carroll of Richmond; and Kelli and Alex Wessinger of Columbia.

A private entombment will be followed by a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 22nd in the St. John's Lutheran Church by Rev. Denise Seymour and Rev. Marion Clark.

The family will receive friends Monday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Gray Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. John's Lutheran Church, 1009 S. Broad Street, Clinton, S.C.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.grayfuneralhome.com. Gray Funeral Home of Clinton