Dr. Melville Donald Hayes, III DDS, MS

Dr. Melville Donald Hayes, III DDS, MS died on May 23, 2022 at his home in Wilmington, Ohio.

Born on August 23,1950 in Cincinnati, Don was the son of Melville Donald Hayes, Jr. and Jane Scott Hayes. Melville died when Don was only three. Jane, a well-respected teacher in the Wilmington public school system, later married Roderick Trimble Telfair. Don was very close to his mother and stepfather, both of whom predeceased him.

Don was educated in the Wilmington public schools and received his undergraduate degree from Miami University. He attended dental school at Ohio State University with a general practice residency at the Medical College of Ohio. He also earned a MS degree in Orthodontics from the University of Michigan. He provided orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics to children and adults in Wilmington for over thirty-five years. His greatest professional satisfaction came from the many cases of facial and dental reconstruction that gave his patients, as he would say, the ability to have a beautiful smile.

Don was an avid collector of American antiques, particularly from the Federalist period.  He was a past president of the Ohio Historic Decorative Arts Association and served as vice chair of the Fine Arts Committee of the Diplomatic Reception Rooms at the United States Department of State. Also interested in American history, he was a governor in the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Ohio and was on the board of the Clinton County History Center. Genealogy was important to him, and he took pleasure in determining the role his direct ancestors played in the founding of America. The quirky tale of Stephen Hopkins, who landed in Jamestown, returned to England, boarded the Mayflower with his family, landed at Plymouth Rock and settled in Plymouth Colony was a favorite.

Don was active in the local Presbyterian church for many years and eventually found his spiritual home at Wilmington Friends Meeting. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Wilmington Friends Meeting, 66 N. Mulberry Street, Wilmington, Ohio 45177.

A particular thank you to the Lippert and Chafin families who provided great support to Don over the years.

A graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM on July 28 at Sugar Grove Cemetery.

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