Dr. Edward R. Thomas, Jr.

Dr. Edward R. Thomas, Jr., 89, passed away peacefully on August 22, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of compassion, dedication, and love. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to the late Edward R. Thomas, Sr., M.D., and Francis I. Thomas (née Uhl), he carried on his family’s tradition of excellence in medicine with a deep sense of purpose and humility.

Dr. Thomas is preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Jane C. Thomas (née Thomas, Rapp); his daughter, Susie (John) Glynn; and his son-in-law, Daniel Wagner.

A respected and compassionate ophthalmologist in the Dayton area, Dr. Thomas performed more than 10,000 cataract surgeries over the course of his distinguished career. He maintained a practice in Dayton, Ohio, and also operated satellite offices throughout the Dayton area until his retirement, ensuring specialized eye care was accessible to many communities. He was affiliated with Miami Valley Hospital, where he served as Chief of Ophthalmology for 25 years, as well as with Kettering Health/Greene Memorial Hospital. He treasured the relationships he built with his patients and was known for his passion to improve and preserve vision, always seeking out the latest technologies and techniques. Early in his career, he had the privilege of practicing alongside his father at the Thomas Eye Institute, an experience he often spoke of with warmth and pride. That practice later grew into what eventually became the Ohio Eyecare Institute.

Dr. Thomas’s education began at Harmon Elementary and Oakwood High School before graduating from Culver Military Academy in 1954. He completed his undergraduate studies at Northwestern University from 1954 to 1958, where he was a proud member of Sigma Chi fraternity. He attended medical school at the University of Cincinnati from 1958 to 1962 followed by an internship at Passavant Memorial Hospital in Chicago from 1962-1963. He then returned to Northwestern University to complete his residency in ophthalmology from 1963 to 1966, where he was honored as Resident of the Year in 1966. He served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968, where he was appointed Assistant Chief of Ophthalmology at Walter Reed Army Hospital by the Surgeon General and held the remarkable role of personal ophthalmologist to President Dwight “Ike” D. Eisenhower and First Lady Mamie Eisenhower. In 1968, he returned to Dayton to continue his career in private practice. In 1969, he performed the first corneal transplant in Dayton, and in 1982 he was instrumental in establishing the Lions Eye Bank in Dayton.

A prolific contributor to the field, Dr. Thomas lectured at national and international medical conferences, published widely on surgical and medical treatments of the eye, and designed 19 surgical instruments, several of which were patented. His innovations in cataract lens implant modifications were adopted around the world, cementing his reputation as both a skilled surgeon and a forward-thinking innovator. He served on statewide committees with the Ohio State Medical Association, and was an active member of the Montgomery County Medical Society, the Dayton Society of Ophthalmology, and national organizations including the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He was also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

He officially retired from practice in 2016, after nearly 50 years of serving the Dayton community.

Beyond medicine, Dr. Thomas lived life with curiosity and joy. He loved his family farm, where he raised and showed Murray Grey cattle, both there and on his Saddleback Ranch in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, farmed and cultivated produce for his garden market, had riding and driving horses and ponies, and later established a USDA-licensed exotic animal petting zoo. He also loved photography, raising orchids, pheasant hunting, fishing, and spending time outdoors, among numerous other hobbies, and took great pleasure in sharing and teaching his passions with others. He was always chasing the next project, notorious for diving headfirst into any new endeavor that caught his curiosity. He was a proud member of Moraine Country Club as well as the Rod and Reel Club in Centerville, of which his father was a founding member. Time with family at their house on Burt Lake, Michigan, and his love for travel and storytelling were among his greatest pleasures.

Dr. Thomas is survived by his devoted wife, Pamela G. Thomas (née Saunders), whose compassionate care and love were a constant source of strength. He is also lovingly remembered by their children: Jennifer (Tres) Wagner Lund, Molly Thomas, and Edward “Robby” Robert Thomas III, and by his daughters from his first marriage: Debbie (Arik) Sherk, Cindy (David) Knipp, and Cathy (Greg) Hunter. His grandchildren include Madeline (Zach) Grochowski, Zach Wagner Lund, Sam Wagner Lund, Ellie Wagner Lund, Edward “Eddie” Robert Thomas IV, Coraline “Coco” Thomas, Gracie Sherk, Thomas Sherk, Maggie Glynn, Garrett Knipp, Catherine Knipp, Sophie Hunter, and Michael Hunter. He is also survived by his great-grandchild, Daniel Lund Grochowski.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff of River Oaks Memory Care, where he resided during his final days, for their loving and compassionate support, and to Affinity Hospice for the additional care they provided.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lions Eye Bank of West Central Ohio, Prevent Blindness Ohio, or the Sigma Chi Foundation, all causes close to his heart.

Dr. Edward R. Thomas, Jr., will be remembered not only for his brilliance as a surgeon and his innovations in ophthalmology, but also for his kindness, humor, quick wit, outrageous yet true stories, and the deep pride he took in his family.

Family will greet friends Friday, September 12 from 5:00pm-7:00pm at Routsong Funeral Home, 2100 E. Stroop Rd., Kettering. The family will have a private service at Woodland Mausoleum on September 13 at 12:00pm.