Obituary for Fred Anthony "Tony" Thomas
Dr. Fred Anthony Thomas Jr., a prominent Kansas City dermatologist and a decorated Vietnam veteran who was known for his kindness, his devotion to his family and a robust sense of humor, died peacefully on January 27 after a long health battle. He was 83 years old.
Dr. Thomas, who went by Tony, had an infectious laugh and an ebullient love of life. He was known for his cheerful friendliness. Tony could always be counted on to put others ahead of himself.
His enthusiasm for life filled every room he entered, and he had deep love for people, a rare gift for being interested in and excited by those he encountered.
Humor was a particular passion for him, especially physical comedy. He also enjoyed family vacations, photography, and hiking in Colorado. In later years, he took particular pleasure in spending time with his grandchildren.
A history buff, he had a particular interest in the history of warfare and was an avid collector of firearms.
Dr. Thomas came into the world on Feb. 7, 1939, in St. Louis, Missouri, one of three sons to Fred A.Thomas and Catherine Webbe. The family lived in a Victorian row house in a Lebanese community called LaSalle Park. His father was a Special Agent with the Missouri Department of Liquor Control, and his mother was a proud housewife.
After graduating from St. Mary’s High School, Dr. Thomas helped put himself through St. Louis University by working at Schnuck’s grocery store. He earned a bachelor of science and went on to get a medical degree from the University of Missouri in 1965.
In medical school, he worked summers as a chemist at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery in St. Louis, where he was part of a team that developed Michelob beer. After finishing his medical coursework, he did a one-year internship at St. Luke’s Hospital in St. Louis.
But the normal path to a medical career – a residency and starting a practice – would have to wait. He joined the U.S. Navy and was sent to Vietnam, stationed with the 26th Marine Regiment, serving as a regimental surgeon from 1966 through 1968.
In Vietnam, Dr. Thomas was involved in one of the largest battles of the war, the Siege of Khe Shan, in January 1968, when North Vietnamese soldiers mounted a series of coordinated attacks against American positions in the village of Khe Sahn and a nearby U.S. combat base. For more than 70 days, American Marines and soldiers fought off mass attacks under nearly constant bombardment.
The North Vietnam soldiers penetrated the defenses several times around the hospital where Dr. Thomas was treating battle casualties. Several North Vietnam soldiers were killed near the windows and doors of the hospital. Dr. Thomas was hit by mortar fire on one occasion, and wounded by gunfire in another, while he was out treating soldiers in the trenches.
He was later awarded a Purple Heart, a Presidential Unit Citation and a Navy Commendation Medal for his bravery.
Returning to the United States, he took some time off, staying with a brother in St. Louis, before decided to do his long delayed residency in dermatology at the University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia.
Dr. Thomas moved to Kansas City in 1972 to start a private practice. He had two children, Michael and Kate, with his first wife, Linda, though the couple later divorced.
He was introduced to Kathryn (Katye) Underwood at a Independence Day Party in July 1986, by his friend Dr. Johnson Underwood III, who was her brother. Two years later, they were married at the Northminster Presbyterian Church on Nov. 3, 1988. He quickly became a loving and beloved stepfather to her two young children from a previous marriage.
Dr. Thomas belonged to several medical societies, including the American Academy of Dermatology, and served on the board of directors for the Missouri Dermatology Association.
He is survived by a son, Michael Thomas, and a daughter, Kate Cookson; his wife, Kathryn Thomas, and her children Kelly (McNeill) Burnett (Clayton) and Justin McNeill (Kristen); a brother, Mike Thomas, and his wife, Judy, and his nieces Andrea Vogelweid and Kristin McGrain; He was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Catherine, his brother, George. Dr. Thomas has four grandchildren whom he cherished: Laney, Hadley and Brody Burnett; and Liam McNeill.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the National Kidney Foundations KS, OK & Western MO, of Overland Park, KS. www.kidney.org
A visitation will be held Wednesday February 1st, from 5pm - 7pm at the Rollins Funeral Home - 1106 E Branch Street, Platte City, MO 64079. The funeral service will be held on Thursday February 2nd at 10:30am at the Rollins Funeral Home. An interment will follow at the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Weston, MO.
Dr. Thomas, who went by Tony, had an infectious laugh and an ebullient love of life. He was known for his cheerful friendliness. Tony could always be counted on to put others ahead of himself.
His enthusiasm for life filled every room he entered, and he had deep love for people, a rare gift for being interested in and excited by those he encountered.
Humor was a particular passion for him, especially physical comedy. He also enjoyed family vacations, photography, and hiking in Colorado. In later years, he took particular pleasure in spending time with his grandchildren.
A history buff, he had a particular interest in the history of warfare and was an avid collector of firearms.
Dr. Thomas came into the world on Feb. 7, 1939, in St. Louis, Missouri, one of three sons to Fred A.Thomas and Catherine Webbe. The family lived in a Victorian row house in a Lebanese community called LaSalle Park. His father was a Special Agent with the Missouri Department of Liquor Control, and his mother was a proud housewife.
After graduating from St. Mary’s High School, Dr. Thomas helped put himself through St. Louis University by working at Schnuck’s grocery store. He earned a bachelor of science and went on to get a medical degree from the University of Missouri in 1965.
In medical school, he worked summers as a chemist at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery in St. Louis, where he was part of a team that developed Michelob beer. After finishing his medical coursework, he did a one-year internship at St. Luke’s Hospital in St. Louis.
But the normal path to a medical career – a residency and starting a practice – would have to wait. He joined the U.S. Navy and was sent to Vietnam, stationed with the 26th Marine Regiment, serving as a regimental surgeon from 1966 through 1968.
In Vietnam, Dr. Thomas was involved in one of the largest battles of the war, the Siege of Khe Shan, in January 1968, when North Vietnamese soldiers mounted a series of coordinated attacks against American positions in the village of Khe Sahn and a nearby U.S. combat base. For more than 70 days, American Marines and soldiers fought off mass attacks under nearly constant bombardment.
The North Vietnam soldiers penetrated the defenses several times around the hospital where Dr. Thomas was treating battle casualties. Several North Vietnam soldiers were killed near the windows and doors of the hospital. Dr. Thomas was hit by mortar fire on one occasion, and wounded by gunfire in another, while he was out treating soldiers in the trenches.
He was later awarded a Purple Heart, a Presidential Unit Citation and a Navy Commendation Medal for his bravery.
Returning to the United States, he took some time off, staying with a brother in St. Louis, before decided to do his long delayed residency in dermatology at the University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia.
Dr. Thomas moved to Kansas City in 1972 to start a private practice. He had two children, Michael and Kate, with his first wife, Linda, though the couple later divorced.
He was introduced to Kathryn (Katye) Underwood at a Independence Day Party in July 1986, by his friend Dr. Johnson Underwood III, who was her brother. Two years later, they were married at the Northminster Presbyterian Church on Nov. 3, 1988. He quickly became a loving and beloved stepfather to her two young children from a previous marriage.
Dr. Thomas belonged to several medical societies, including the American Academy of Dermatology, and served on the board of directors for the Missouri Dermatology Association.
He is survived by a son, Michael Thomas, and a daughter, Kate Cookson; his wife, Kathryn Thomas, and her children Kelly (McNeill) Burnett (Clayton) and Justin McNeill (Kristen); a brother, Mike Thomas, and his wife, Judy, and his nieces Andrea Vogelweid and Kristin McGrain; He was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Catherine, his brother, George. Dr. Thomas has four grandchildren whom he cherished: Laney, Hadley and Brody Burnett; and Liam McNeill.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the National Kidney Foundations KS, OK & Western MO, of Overland Park, KS. www.kidney.org
A visitation will be held Wednesday February 1st, from 5pm - 7pm at the Rollins Funeral Home - 1106 E Branch Street, Platte City, MO 64079. The funeral service will be held on Thursday February 2nd at 10:30am at the Rollins Funeral Home. An interment will follow at the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Weston, MO.