Dr. William Dennis ``W.D.'' Thames
June 25, 1925 - November 28, 2010
W. D. Thames, longtime Lufkin physician, passed away at his home at Pine Crest Retirement Community on Sunday, November 28, 2010. He was born in Lufkin, Texas on June 25, 1925 to William Dennis Thames and Claudia King Thames. W. D. graduated from Lufkin High School in 1941 as the valedictorian of his class.
W. D. attended Stephen F. Austin State University and the University of Texas at Austin. He was selected for the Navy V-12 program, which provided accelerated officer training at colleges and universities as part of the war effort in WWII, and graduated from Tulane University Medical School in New Orleans, Louisiana in May of 1947. He was a member of the AOA Honorary Medical and the Nu Sigma Nu Medical Fraternities. Upon graduation from medical school, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant JG and was called for two years of active duty in the U. S. Navy. He served as a doctor on a ship in Korea and Japan in the Korean Conflict.
W. D. married Sarah Jane Brazil, also of Lufkin, on November 6, 1948. They recently celebrated their 62nd anniversary.
Dr. Thames practiced medicine in Lufkin for forty years and served terms as Chief of Staff -at each of the hospitals. For most of those years, Dr. Thames shared an office with Dr. Dan Spivey, at 818 W. Frank Avenue. After his retirement from private practice, Dr. Thames worked as a staff physician at the Lufkin State School for a period of 10 years. He was a member of the Angelina County Medical Society for many years, serving two terms as President and one term as Secretary. For twenty years, he was a delegate to the Texas Medical Association (TMA) and he had a record of long service on the board of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians.
After retiring, W. D. and Sarah Jane traveled extensively, enjoying trips to Europe, China, the Holy Land, and throughout the United States. Since the spring of 2005, W. D. and Sarah Jane have enjoyed life at Pine Crest Retirement Community, here in Lufkin.
W. D. also served his community in many ways. He was active in the Lions Club, the Jaycees, the McKewen Center, and the Friends of the Kurth Memorial Library. For many years, he was the team doctor for the Lufkin High School Panthers. W. D. also served for many years as the Chairman of the Hall of Honor Committee for the Lufkin High School Alumni Association. W. D. was awarded the Angelina Award in 1987 for "a lifetime of commitment that has made our community a better place in which to live." In November 2008, Dr. Thames received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural "Salute to Healthcare" banquet.
W. D. was a member of Lufkin's First Baptist Church. He served as a deacon for over 50 years and was Sunday School Superintendent for eleven years. From 1975 to 1995, he led thirty medical mission trips to the Rio Grande area in Mexico.
W. D. is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Sarah Jane of Lufkin; daughters, Ina Jane of Lufkin and Mary Anne Clement and her husband Jay Clement of Austin; two grandchildren, Jake and Sarah Clement of Austin; two sisters, Dollie Thames Stone and her husband Howard Stone of Dayton, Texas and Flora O'Quinn and her husband Dr. W. D. (Billy) O'Quinn of Lufkin; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. W. D. leaves behind many, many former patients and a host of friends.
Pallbearers will be Ryan Sorrell, Phillip Friesen, Steve Hogue, Dr. Edward Domingue, Dr. Sid Roberts, Scott McIlveene, Dr. David Glenn.
Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Dan Spivey, Dr. Nash Hogue, Gaston Meadows, Dr. Bob Garrett, Ernest Bartlett, Rodney Brazil, Roscoe Ivy, Loyd Earl Richardson, Buford Abeldt, Dr. Bob Rhodes, the Deacons of Lufkin's First Baptist Church, and Members of the Angelina County Medical Society.
Donations in his memory may be made to the Organ Repair or Missions Funds at Lufkin's First Baptist Church, 106 E. Bremond, Lufkin, Texas 75901; Friends of the Kurth Memorial Library, 706 S. Raguet, Lufkin, Texas 75901; or to the charity of your choice.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening, November 30, 2010 at Gipson Funeral Home.
Services for W. D. will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 1, 2010 in Lufkin's First Baptist Church Sanctuary, with Dr. Andrew G. Pittman officiating. Interment will follow in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park.
Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com
Gipson Funeral Home; directors