May 30, 2011

SUFFOLK — Dr. William Hopwood Higinbotham Jr. died May 30, 2011. A native of Suffolk, he was the son of the late Crystal and William Hopwood Higinbotham and was predeceased by his first wife, Doris Leigh Kiser Higinbotham. He was retired from his general dentistry practice, which he operated for 43 years. He was a 1948 Eagle Scout in Troop 1 in Suffolk. He was a 1952 graduate of Suffolk High School, a 1956 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, 1962 graduate of the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry and served as a 1st Lt. in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1964.

He was a member of the American Dental Association, Virginia Dental Association, Tidewater Dental Association, Fellow International College of Dentists, Academy of General Dentistry, Portsmouth-Suffolk Dental Study Club, Southeastern Medical Dental Society and was an active staff dentist at Louise Obici Memorial Hospital and Hillhaven Nansemond Nursing Center.

Dr. Higinbotham served on the Suffolk School Board from 1971 to 1978, Suffolk City Council from 1982 to 1990, Virginia Municipal League Education Committee from 1984 to 1990, Governor’s Advisory Committee Planning District 20 from 1985 to 1989 and Chairman of Downtown Suffolk Revitalization Commission from 1994 to 1996. He was a member of Main Street United Methodist Church, where he had served on the Administrative Board and as chairman of the Pastor Parish Relations Committee. He has been a member of the Jr. Chamber of Commerce, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, Franklin-Suffolk Chapter VMI Alumni Association, American Legion Post 57, BPOE #685, Traveler Protective Association, Troop 1 Boy Scout Committee, Progressive Men’s Club, United Way, Salvation Army Building Committee, Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society, Riddick’s Folly, Virginia Art League and Suffolk Art League and enjoyed his hobbies of gardening, snow skiing, golf and salt water fishing.

Survivors include his wife, Joanna Taylor Higinbotham; two daughters, Susan Higinbotham-Conner and husband Michael Lee Conner, of Richmond, and Mary Keith Floyd and husband Daniel Thomas Floyd, of Lakewood, CO; son, William Edward Higinbotham and wife Edith Saecker Higinbotham, of Suffolk; five grandchildren, Ann Wellington Higinbotham, Sarah Mills Higinbotham, Taylor Leigh Conner, Jacob William Floyd and Madeline Avery Floyd. The family would like to thank Catherinea Sawyer and Autumn Care for their care given to Dr. Higinbotham.

A graveside service will be conducted Thursday at 11 a.m. in Holly Lawn Cemetery by the Rev. Robert J. Parks with a reception to follow at Main Street United Methodist Church. Memorial donations may be made to the VMI Foundation, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450 or to Main Street United Methodist Church, 202 N. Main St., Suffolk, VA 23434. R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family. Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.