Noel David Wilkie – Captain, United States Navy

Biography and Photograph Courtesy of Nancy Joie Wilkie, September 2007

Dr. Noel D. Wilkie, 74, retired United States Navy dentist and professor at both Georgetown University and New York University, died of complications from Hodgkins Lymphoma at Georgetown University Hospital on Sunday, October 16, 2005.

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Dr. Wilkie began his 28-year career in Unites States Navy Dental Corps by serving aboard the USS General A.E. Anderson. Following a sabbatical in Lovell, Wyoming, where he was in private practice, Dr. Wilkie returned to the United States Navy Dental Corps for post graduate study at the Naval Dental School in Bethesda, Maryland.  Dr. Wilkie served aboard the USS Enterprise during the Vietnam War. He was in charge of the Midship’s Battle Dressing Station the day of the USS Enterprise fire—January 14, 1969—and saved many lives. Dr. Wilkie returned to the Naval Graduate Dental School in Bethesda, Maryland, and served as Chief of the Complete Denture Section, Director of the Second-Year Residencies in Prosthodontics, and Course Director and Course Lecturer for a variety of fields until 1974. Following a four-year assignment at the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery in Washington, D.C., Dr. Wilkie served as the Commanding Officer of the Naval Regional Dental Clinic at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the Staff Dental Officer at the Pearl Harbor Navy Base, the Force Dental Officer of the Naval Logistics Command Pacific, the Force Dental Officer of the Submarine Force Pacific, and the Fleet Dental Officer of the US Pacific Fleet from 1978 until 1982.  Upon his return to the Washington area in 1982, Dr. Wilkie served as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Dentistry, Naval Medical Command National Capital Region and was a lecturer at the Naval School of Health Sciences in Bethesda.Dr. Wilkie was the recipient of two Navy Meritorious Service Medals, three Navy Commendation Medals (the second of which was for Heroic Achievement, the third with Combat V), the Navy Unit Citation, the National Defense Medal, the Naval Expeditionary Medal with Second Campaign Star, the Vietnam Service Medal with Three Campaign Stars, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device.

Upon retirement from the United States Navy in 1984, Dr. Wilkie served as an Associate Professor in the School of Dentistry and the Graduate School at Georgetown University for five years, teaching in the predoctoral and postdoctoral programs. After the closing of the dental school in 1989, Dr. Wilkie continued his teaching career at New York University where he served as an Associate Professor and the Director of the Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry until 1994. He also served as an Associate Professorial Lecturer at the George Washington University, Washington, D.C. from 1970 until 1974 and as a member of the Clinical Staff, Dental Services, Veterans Administration, Manhattan Hospital, New York, New York, from 1989 until 1994.

Dr. Wilkie was born on the Fourth of July in Powell, Wyoming. He was a graduate of the University of Wyoming, receiving a B.S. degree in chemistry and zoology. He received his D.D.S. degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Wilkie received his certification as a Diplomate from the American Board of Prosthodontics in 1970.

Dr. Wilkie authored nine journal articles and presented over 60 lectures or courses nationally and abroad. Dr. Wilkie was instrumental in the founding of the Journal of Prosthodontics and served as an Organizational Editor to the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry.

In retirement, Dr. Wilkie continued his involvement in the field of denture prosthetics and dental education through his ProsStars Newsletter for ten years and then through his Web site (www.prosstars.com). He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the University of Wyoming Alumni Association from 1995 until 1999 and as its President from 1998 until 1999. Dr. Wilkie enjoyed reading, biking, cooking, baseball, beach activities, and trout fishing.

Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Constance J. Wilkie of Rockville, Maryland; a sister Jean Stevens; a daughter Nancy J. Wilkie; a son Jeffrey J. Wilkie; and four granddaughters—Melodi, Samantha, Laura, and Carolyn Wilkie.  Because he believed so strongly in promoting education, Dr. Wilkie established The Wilkie Family Scholarship at Northwest College in his hometown of Powell, Wyoming. Contributions to The Wilkie Family Scholarship can be sent to the Northwest College Foundation, 231 West Sixth Street, Powell, Wyoming  82435.


WILKIE, NOEL DAVID
CAPT   US NAVY
VIETNAM

  • DATE OF BIRTH: 07/04/1931
  • DATE OF DEATH: 10/16/2005
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 69  SITE 1712
    ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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