Tom R. Thomas, 72, of Fayette, MO, passed away June 20, 2020. Visitation will take place at Memorial Funeral Home in Columbia on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., June 25, 2020 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fayette, MO.
Tom was born In Ste. Genevieve, MO on May 18, 1948. Tom graduated from Ste. Genevieve High School in 1966 and received a Bachelor’s Degree from Missouri Valley College in 1970. He completed his PhD in Exercise Physiology from the University of Missouri in 1976. He married Susan Schulte in Marshall, MO on August 12, 1972.
Tom moved to Lawrence, KS in 1976 and spent 10 years as exercise physiology professor, researcher, and director of the Exercise Physiology lab at the University of Kansas. In 1986, he returned to Columbia, MO and the University of Missouri, where he served in the same capacities until his retirement in 2011. He received many awards and recognitions over his career, and one he was especially proud of was being named to the Ste. Genevieve High School Hall of Fame.
Tom was active his entire life, including playing football at Missouri Valley College. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, following sports (especially high school), and activities on his farm.
He is survived by his wife Susan; children, Amy (Jeremiah) Alcorn, Joe (Kellie) Thomas, and Amanda (Donnie) Estill; his grandchildren, Jake Thomas, Grady Thomas, Ty Estill, and Beckley Alcorn; and siblings Diane Buatte, Jane Jones, Jerry Thomas, Mary Thompson, Nancy Thomas, and Bill Thomas. He was preceded in death by his parents Raymond and Loretta Thomas.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Fayette Food Pantry in c/o Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W, Columbia, MO 65202.
