W. Robert Biddington, D.D.S., associate vice president for health sciences at the West Virginia University Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center and dean emeritus of the WVU School of Dentistry, died Dec. 15 after a brief illness.

“Dr. Biddington served with great dedication and affection for the institution and its employees,”said WVU President David Hardesty.”His smile and quiet advice will be missed by those with whom he worked.”

In addition to his WVU duties, Biddington was a national leader in dentistry and dental education. Among other posts, he served as president of the American College of Dentists, president of the American Association of Dental Schools; chairman of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations; and chairman of the Committee on Dental Health of the Council of Sports Medicine of the United States Olympic Committee.

“As a faculty member, a dean, and vice president and in many administrative capacities, Dr Biddington served the University with distinction for over 45 years,”said Robert M. D’Alessandri, M.D., vice president for health sciences.”We have lost a friend and colleague.”

Biddington was born on March 30, 1925, in Piedmont, W.Va. He graduated from Piedmont High School, and attended Potomac State College, Hampden-Sydney College, WVU and the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, the dental school of the University of Maryland.

Biddington served in the U.S. Navy during and after World War II, and was on the faculty of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery for 10 years before he joined the newly-formed WVU School of Dentistry in 1959 as professor and chairman of the Department of Endodontics

He was named dean in 1968 and served in this position for 23 years, until 1991. During this period, Biddington also held the positions of WVU interim provost/vice president for academic affairs, 1979-80, and interim vice president for health sciences, 1981-82. In 1991-92 he served WVU as vice president of the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center.

In 1998, Biddington received the William John Gies Award, the highest honor offered by the American College of Dentists, recognizing his exceptional contributions to the dental profession, the community and society.

Biddington is survived by his wife, Dolores, whom he married in 1947; a son, Dr. William Berrett Biddington, and his spouse, Dr. Carol Mousseau Biddington, of Uniontown, Pa.; two grandchildren, William Marshall Biddington and Matthew Scott Biddington; and a sister-in-law, Kathleen Maggio, of Baltimore.

Friends may call at the Fred L. Jenkins Funeral Home in Morgantown from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19. Services will be at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Star City, at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 20.