Albert Patrick Thomas, M.D.

Dr. Thomas was born in Columbia, SC on March 15, 1928 to the late Henry Gray Thomas, Jr. and Mabel Patrick Thomas. His paternal grandparents, Henry Gray Thomas, Sr. and Mary “Mayme” Pennington Thomas, adopted Albert when he was two years old.

Albert graduating from University High School in Columbia in 1945, he was a star basketball player at University High School and was named the MVP during the 1945 SC State Championship. After beginning college at Duke University, he received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Carolina in 1949. After serving a year in the U.S. Army, he received his Doctor of Medicine in 1955 from the Medical College of Charleston. After completing one year of internship at Columbia Hospital, Albert began his distinguished career in Lexington, SC, where he practiced family medicine with Dr. Jim Steele from 1956 through 1962. He completed a three-year residency program in obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia Hospital and began practicing in West Columbia. He shared office space and friendship for many years with Dr. Neyle Bennett in West Columbia.

He married the late Anne Pearson Thomas in 1952 and they had four children, Leigh Thomas Crout (Jerry) of Gilbert, Albert P. "Rick" Thomas, Jr. (JoAnn) of Awendaw, SC, Mike Thomas (Carole) of Lexington, Mary Anne Thomas of Gaffney, SC and their children and grandchildren. Albert and Anne were married for twenty-seven years until her death in 1979.

Albert married Helen Grumbles Thomas in 1981, and they were happily married for 39 years. He was beloved by Helen’s daughters, Elizabeth Eaddy Hammonds (Stephen) of Simpsonville, SC and Joy Eaddy Wettlin (Andy), also of Simpsonville, SC, and their children.

Albert continued practicing in West Columbia, Columbia, and Lexington (at the Lexington Health Department and Lexington Medical Center), where he was loved and respected by both his patients and staff. Albert delivered over six thousand babies (three hundred and eighty-five in a single year) before his retirement in 1997. He was delighted to receive visits from his nurses for many years while living at home. All of his nurses claim to be his favorite, but rumor has it that his two favorites were Barbara Anderson and Pam Padula.

Albert enjoyed fishing, gardening (tomatoes were a specialty), raising koi, cooking (known for his delicious Thanksgiving/Christmas gravy), crossword puzzles, black coffee, Judy Garland and visiting Pawleys Island. He traveled to Pawleys Island for eighty-six consecutive years until his health prevented it. He enjoyed fishing, gigging for flounder, hunting for wing shells and wading in the inlets to fish for speckled trout, channel bass and bluefish - occasionally fighting off sharks for the fish on his stringer floating behind him. He was a loyal friend to many of his University High School friends and enjoyed house parties at Pawleys Island with them for many years. Well into his fifties, Albert continued to play church-league basketball and softball for Lexington United Methodist Church (of which he was a member for over 60 years), where he was known on the court and diamond simply as “Doc.”

He is survived by his devoted wife, Helen. Helen would like to thank the many people who have helped, including Sarah Roberts, his Stephen Minister Ed Richardson, his excellent care team at the VA HBPC: Dr. Easterling, NP Zach, and RN Luann, the wonderful staff at Warriors Walk: Dr. John Frutchey, Gloria Williams, APRN, FNP, and the many others who provided excellent care.

Albert was also predeceased by brother, Henry Gray Thomas III and his wife, Johanna; sister, Lee Corley Powell and her husband, Bennie; his favorite aunt, Miriam Brown; grandson, Jay Fox; great grandson, Madden Phillips; niece, Ellie Thomas and son-in-law, Jim Fox. He also leaves behind life-long friends, Dr. Marion Caughman, Ben Smith, Dr. Ben Woodward, and many other treasured friends, neighbors, patients, and past colleagues.

Albert enjoyed a full, long, distinguished and productive life marked by kindness and quiet dignity. He will be greatly missed but always lovingly remembered with a lasting legacy of a life well-lived.

A celebration of life service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 15, 2021 at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made to:

Fisher House of Columbia

P.O. Box 290185

Columbia, SC 29229

Or to:

Lexington United Methodist Church

309 East Main St.

Lexington, SC 29072