Dr. Thomas Leon Theus, age 88, passed away at Columbus Hospice House on December 10, 2024. Tom was born in Butler, Georgia on April 5, 1936, to parents Leon and Beatrice Theus. Growing up in rural Taylor County, Georgia, Tom enjoyed such outdoor activities as hunting, fishing and playing high school sports where he excelled at baseball.
Tom obtained his undergrad degree from the University of Georgia and thereafter received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia, following which he completed an internship and residency in internal medicine along with a fellowship in infectious diseases. Tom married Peggy Usher in 1961 to whom he remained a loving and devoted husband until her death last December.
Following his medical training, Tom joined the U.S. Army and served a tour of duty in Vietnam as a physician obtaining the rank of captain. One of his more interesting medical cases while serving in Vietnam was treating a tiger bite.
Upon completing his military service, Tom started his private medical practice in Columbus. For almost four decades, Tom was a devoted physician to his patients, including many years of practicing with Columbus Clinic. In his practice, Tom emphasized preventive medicine and held many smoking cessation clinics in the community as a free service to the public.
Tom and Peggy raised their four children on a family farm in Ft. Mitchell, Alabama. During these years, Tom enjoyed gardening with his family, with a particular interest in growing fruit trees, a hobby at which he became very skilled. Tom instilled in his kids a desire for service at an early age as well as a love for animals and nature. In his later years, Tom spent considerable time fishing with Peggy on property owned in Harris County. Tom never tired of discussing all aspects of Georgia football.
Throughout his career, Tom was active with various local charitable organizations, including serving as board chair of the Columbus chapter of the American Cancer Society. In addition, Tom served as a chief of medicine at the The Medical Center as well as chief of medicine and medical director at Doctor’s Hospital.
Tom accepted Christ as his Savior early in life and was quick to share his faith. He was a Seventh-Day Adventist. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife. Tom is survived by four children, Dr. William Theus (Renee) of Calhoun, Georgia, Ted Theus (Brenda), Jennifer Steelmon (Edward), Elizabeth Glass (Dr. Brooks K.), all of Harris County, Georgia, along with eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Betsy Smith, of Griffin, Georgia.
Visitation with the family will be held on Monday, December 16, 2024, from 10:00 to 11:30 am at Striffler-Hamby Funeral Home on Macon Road followed by a celebration of Tom’s life at 11:30 am and a private burial service. The family would like to thank the staff at Columbus Hospice, the Gardens of Calvary and his physician and friend Dr. Donna Burrell, for the excellent care they provided to our father. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that any donations in Tom’s honor be made to Columbus Hospice or the Gardens at Calvary.
