Riley Franklin Dobbins
The spirit of Dr. Riley Franklin Dobbins, DDS, returned unto God on October 20, 2023, while he was at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. after a lengthy illness.
Dr. Dobbins was born on April 14, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky very shortly after the death of his father, Riley Franklin Dobbins, II. Riley’s mother, Dorothy Maynard Akers Dobbins, took her infant son to Mullins, WV to be with her parents, Walter Herndon and Osie Leonard Akers, to be in their care while she returned to Marshall College in Huntington, WV to complete her teaching degree in 1945. Riley thrived with his grandparents, who had yearned for a son, for more than four years. Dorothy then met and married Ronald Bruce MacVittie, an executive with Union Carbide, in Alloy, WV. Dr. Dobbins’ brother, Ronald Bruce MacVittie was born in 1947. Dr. Dobbins grew up in south-central West Virginia in Glen Ferris & Charleton Heights along the Kanawha River, an area Riley loved exploring.
Dr. Dobbins is survived by his soulmate and love of his life Victoria, son, Riley F. Dobbins, IV of Phoenix, AZ; grandson, Riley F. Dobbins V of Maine; brother, Ron MacViittie, Ph.D. and wife Paula of Southport, NC; Vic’s siblings and their children: Tammi Hill & Jeff, of Berkeley Springs. WV, Tammi’s children Walter Hill and wife Melissa; their children Paige, Sophie & Wyatt; Katherine Truax and husband Matt, their children Riley & River; Tim Young and wife Brenda of Berkeley Springs, WV; Tim’s children Cody Young, Morgan Young & Derek McCumbee, their daughter Marley; Brooke Young & Ryan Michael; Jennifer McCoy and husband D.K. of Berkeley Springs, WV; their children Darek McCoy, his children Jayden & Khylee; Josh McCoy and wife Kelsey, their son Kaden; Scott Young and wife Betty of Berkeley Springs, WV; Dean Young and wife Karen of Berkeley Springs, WV, Dean’s children Caleb Young, Tyler Young; Chuck Young and wife Cheryl of Winchester, VA; cousins Jack Partridge, Columbus, OH & Ginny Partridge of Hansville, WA, and his beloved puppy Gunnar.
Riley graduated from Gauley Bridge High School in Gauley Bridge, WV in 1959 at the age of 17, and attended Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA in 1963, West Virginia Institute of Technology, Montgomery, WV in 1964, and graduated from West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV with a Bachelor of Science in 1966. Dr. Dobbins graduated from WVU with his Doctorate of Dental Surgery in 1968 and completed scores of dental certifications and continuing education endeavors.
Dr. Dobbins opened his dental practice in Shepherdstown, WV in 1968 on German Street and moved his office to 7512 Martinsburg Pike in 1971. Dr. Dobbins continued his education in dentistry by traveling across the United States attending classes and taking and giving lectures, sharing skills, methods and learnings with those he considered to be the “best dentists,” studying online and reading numerous dental books and journals. Riley loved his profession. He and Vic were dedicated to his thousands of patients and families, as well as his staff, closing his practice in 2022.
Dr. Dobbins never stopped learning, he was an avid reader and well read, in addition to dentistry he read and studied history, especially the American Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War I & II, geography, archaeology and woodworking for which he had a deep passion, he was a skilled woodworker building reproduction 18th century furniture and carvings. He and Vic deeply and diligently studied the Holy Bible KJV, he was an Independent Fundamentalist Baptist. Doc, as his family, friends & patients referred to him had a sharp sense of humor, having learned, unfortunately, from his grandaddy Walter, the art of “teasing friends and foes alike.”
A memorial service will be officiated by Dr. Craig Bush, Pastor, will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2023 at 1:00PM at Grace Baptist Church, 4272 Charles Town Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430. The church will be open at 12:30PM for the arrival of family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Grace Baptist Church, 4272 Charles Town Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430, in memory of Riley “Doc” Dobbins, III, DDS.
Arrangements were trusted with J.L. Davis Funeral Home in Smithsburg, MD, and online condolences can be offered at www.jldavisfh.com.