Fred B. Thomas

Dr. Thomas was a member of the faculty of the Department of Internal Medicine at Ohio State University for more than 40 years, serving as director of the Division of Gastroenterology from 1974 to 1990, and again from 2001 to 2006. Fred Thomas was born August 10, 1940, in Irvine, Kentucky, the only child of Hazel and Fred Thomas. He graduated from Hamilton High School in Hamilton, Ohio, where he played basketball. He graduated from Ohio State University, Phi Beta Kappa, in 1962 and Ohio State University Medical School in 1965. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Ohio State, serving as chief resident from 1968-69, and a fellowship in Gastroenterology from 1969-71.

He served for two years as a major on the medical staff of the U.S. Air Force, stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi during the Vietnam War where he treated returning POWs. Dr. Thomas returned to Columbus in 1973 and joined the Division of Gastroenterology at the Ohio State University becoming director of the division the following year. During his tenure, Dr. Thomas conducted research on gallstone-dissolving pills and the effects of coffee on the stomach including one study for the National Institutes of Health. He was Professor of Medicine at the Ohio State University College of Medicine from 1973 to 2011. During his tenure at the Ohio State, Dr. Thomas was actively involved in leading the gastroenterology fellowship program. Dr. Thomas was known to his colleagues as an outstanding physician. Widely recognized for his vast knowledge of gastroenterology and internal medicine, he published more than 60 peer-reviewed articles. But as Dr. Hagop Mekhjian, Chief Medical Officer at OSU and former partner of Dr. Thomas noted, “Dr. Thomas was best remembered as a devoted teacher. He loved teaching at all levels, but truly relished instructing and working alongside Gastroenterology fellows. Despite being one of the elder statesmen in the Division, his ability to connect and relate with its youngest physicians was without equal.” Fred is remembered by his family and friends as a beloved baseball coach, avid gardener, and the funniest guy in the room.

Dr. Thomas is survived by his wife of twenty years, Teresa Jean (Teri) Thomas, and his children, Tracy Ann Thomas (Steve Funk), a law professor at the University of Akron, Timothy Scott Thomas (Pam Thomas), a high school baseball coach and teacher in Pickerington, and Freddie Broaddus Thomas, II (Kristy Thomas), a teacher with special education certification in Dublin; and step-children Melissa Dawn Bailey Owens (Chad Owens) and Melinda Suzanne Bailey Walker (Steve Walker). Dr. Thomas is also survived by grandchildren, Peter Thomas Funk, Caroline Linda Thomas Funk, Kathryn Elizabeth Thomas, Kara Grace Thomas, Alexa Nicole Thomas, Freddie Broaddus Thomas III (Brodie), Jack Edward Thomas, Jacob Chadwick Owens, Charles Cooper Owens, Patrick Joshua (PJ) Walker, Alison Nicole Walker, and Stephanie Elizabeth Walker. He was preceded in death by his first wife of twenty-eight years, Linda Abbuhl Thomas, and parents Hazel Broaddus Thomas and Fred Thomas.

A private family funeral is planned. Visitation will be held Friday, August 17, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST CHAPEL, 1740 Zollinger Rd. Columbus, OH 43221.

Donations in remembrance of his life may be made in Memory of Dr. Fred B. Thomas to the Ohio State Gastroenterology Fellowship Fund-#301294, PO Box 183112, Columbus, Ohio, 43218. To share memories of Dr. Thomas, visit www.schoedinger.com.