William Joseph Wise

Dr. William Joseph Wise, a resident of Rockwall, Texas, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, January 14, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. Born January 11, 1931 to Laura Manning Wise and Rogers Croswell Wise in Greenville, Texas, Dr. Wise was 86 years young. A celebration of his life will take place upon cremation on Saturday, January 21, 4:00 pm at Sparkman-Hillcrest, 7405 W. Northwest Hwy, Dallas, TX.

A graduate of East Texas State University, Dr. Wise went on to dental school at Baylor College of Dentistry where he graduated in 1954. In 1956, Dr. Wise joined the US Public Health Service as a 1st Lieutenant and served as an Assistant Dental Surgeon. He was accepted into the University of Washington Graduate Orthodontic Residency program and graduated in 1958. He was awarded the Milo Hellman Award in 1958 for his research on Heredity and the Craniofacial Complex at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Dr. Wise returned to Dallas, Texas in 1958 to set up his private orthodontic practice where he quickly became one of the area’s premier orthodontists and practiced for more than 50 years. An instructor in Prosthodontics at Baylor College of Dentistry from 1958-1960, Dr. Wise was one of the founding faculty members of the Baylor College of Dentistry Department of Graduate Orthodontics. He served as a clinical instructor from 1960-1975. In 1972 he became a diplomat of the American Board of Orthodontics and has been a member of numerous professional associations including the Texas Tweed Orthodontic Group, the Texas Committee for Ethical Dentistry, the Dallas County Dental Society, the Texas Dental Association, the American Dental Association, the American Association of Orthodontists, the International College of Dentists and the Dallas Association of Orthodontists where he served as president from 1986-1987. He was actively involved in the communities where he lived serving as an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, President of the Forney Lions Club and has served as an honorary Vice President of the State Fair of Texas.

A lifelong bird fancier, Dr. Wise and his first wife Linda along with their four children, Robert, Mary, John and Elizabeth, shared a family hobby throughout the 60’s and 70’s raising and showing poultry throughout the United States. He was regularly featured on the “Mr. Peppermint Show” in Dallas as well as news and animal husbandry publications. The family also appeared as the featured guests on the nationally televised “To Tell the Truth” TV show in the 70s. The Wise family’s success in raising and showing poultry is still revered as one of the most successful breeding partnerships of top-quality show birds. He was a huge supporter and contributor to the Texas State Fair Livestock program for many years and ultimately donated his substantial array of birds and livestock to Samuell Farm Park in Mesquite, Texas when he was no longer able to care for them.

Dr. Wise could regularly be found on the golf course in his younger years and became a “scratch” golfer playing with the likes of PGA golfer Lee Trevino in his day. In college he competed on the Table Tennis team and enjoyed playing the Clarinet. A highly talented whistler, Dr. Wise competed as a young man and could whistle entire pieces of complicated music. His family, many patients and staff were often beautifully serenaded throughout his life. His children could hear his distinct whistle when they were growing up and always knew when it was time to come home. Finally, Dr. Wise was an avid Dallas Cowboy fan as well as a fan of the Dallas Symphony, the Summer Musicals, Dallas Opera and other venues of Dallas entertainment.

Dr. Wise is preceded in death by his parents and loving sister Helen Virginia Lacy. He is survived by his wonderful wife of 30 years, Ruthanne Wise, who gave him many years of love and happiness as they worked together as healthcare providers and shared their love of travel by circling the globe. He is also survived by his four children, Robert Wise and his wife Linda, Mary Anthony and her husband Rod, Dr. John Wise and his wife Carol, Elizabeth King and her husband Rusty; stepchildren Curtis Jones, Brian Jones and his wife Gretchen, Stephen Jones and his wife Melissa, Kathleen Rogers and her husband Russ, Dr. Caryl Sue Reinch amd her husband Ron; grandchildren, Jessica Wise, George Wise, Dallas Wise, Lauren Morris and her husband Jacob, Alex Anthony, Emily Anthony Ben Wise, Madeline Wise, Gabrielle King, Ayden King, Dylan Jones, Chloe Jones, Parker Jones, Jacey Jones, Sean Rogers, Kristen Rogers, ; Christina and Amy Reinch, Ashley Kerins and her husband James; great-grandson Hunter Morris and Jamison Kerins; numerous nephews, nieces, and great friends. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations may be given to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, 2222 Welborn St, Dallas, TX 75219.