Thomas Stanton Thomas

Thomas Stanton Thomas, 71, of Columbia, died October 16, 2016 at Saint Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City due to unexpected lung related issues. He was born November 3, 1944 in Louisiana, Missouri to Glenn Stanton Thomas and Hilda Gamm Thomas, and he married Nancy Waller of Lincolnwood, Illinois on June 7, 1967. They were married almost 50 years.

A memorial service will be held Friday, October 21, at 10 am, First Presbyterian Church, 16 Hitt Street in Columbia, with a reception following the service. A private burial service will be held on Thursday, October 20th at Columbia Cemetery.

Mr. Thomas received a BA degree in Political Science from Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri in 1966, where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He completed the BHSM, the MPA in Health Services Management, and the MEd degree at the University of Missouri-Columbia. His entire career was spent in the health care field. He was a Fellow of the American College of Health Care Executives where he served as a Regent in Missouri. He served as Corporate Vice President, Public Policy and President, SSM Policy Institute from 1995-2005 for SSM Healthcare. From 1988 to 1995 he worked for BJC Health Systems as Director, State and Federal Relations and VP Governmental and Regulatory Affairs. Mr. Thomas was the VP of Planning and Marketing at Boone Hospital Center from 1979-1988 and Executive Director, Boone Hospital Foundation, and member of the Missouri Heart Institute. He served as Chairman of the Missouri Health and Education Facilities Financing Authority for two years and was Chairman of the Missouri State Board of Health for two years.

Mr. Thomas served as President of the National Alumni Association and was a member of the Board of Trustees of Westminster College. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Westminster. He was a Charter President of the Columbia South Rotary Club and he recently founded the initiative “Rotary for Life” within Rotary District 6080, educating members and the community how to register as an organ and tissue donor. Mr. Thomas received a heart transplant in 2010 and through compliance and exercise he was rewarded with over 6 ½ years of excellent health, which allowed travel to Europe and throughout the United States and Canada with his wife. The Gift of Life played an important role in his volunteer activities and he recently was appointed an Ambassador for the Midwest Transplant Network.

First Presbyterian Church in Columbia provided Mr. Thomas spiritual well-being and fellowship. He served as an Elder, moderator of the Deacons, Nominating committee, Planning & Development, and the Capital Campaign.

He enjoyed many things over his life including golfing, snow skiing, fishing in Colorado, reading, spending time with family, and traveling.

Mr. Thomas is survived by his wife Nancy of Columbia; son David Stanton Thomas, wife Amy, grandchildren Nathan Thomas and Emilia Thomas, all of West Plains, MO; sister Marilyn Thomas Roan of Waleska, Georgia, three nieces, Cathy Roan, Margaret Roan, Elizabeth Roan McGuire and two grand-nieces; his sister-in-law Carole Waller Seibert, husband Jack, and her family including son Philip Holoubek, his daughters Allison and Katherine; and daughter Joy Seibert Moore, and husband Andrew, their children Gavin and Peyton, all of Lexington, KY. He was preceded in death by his parents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Contributions in his memory can be made to First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, Westminster College, or Columbia South Rotary Club.