Donald A. Thomas, Md

DURHAM - Donald A. Thomas, MD, died Sunday, April 6, two months before his 80th birthday, at The Pavilion at Croasdaile Village. He was born in Roanee Rapids on June 6, 1934. Don graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1961 and from the UNC School of Medicine in 1966. He completed a residency ineediatrics at the City of Memphis Hospitals and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in 1969. He then joined Dr. Fletcher Raiford in a private practice of pediatrics ineendersonville, which later became Hendersonville Pediatrics, PA. Dr. Thomas practiced pediatrics ineendersonville for 28 years, retiring in 1998. He and his wife, Norma, moved to Durham in 2001 to be nearer their two daughters. Don is survived by his wife of 54 years, Norma Lockaby Thomas, of Durham; his daughters, Sheryl Thomas Fowler of Durham and Kim Thomas Freeman and her husband, Jim, of Wilmington; three grandchildren, William Thomas Fowler, Caroline Scott Fowler and Isabella Han Freeman; his brother, Halton Thomas, and Halton's wife, Wanda, of Salisbury, MD; close family members Bill and Linda Drake of Cary and Harry and Katherine Lockaby of Hendersonville, along with many nieces, nephews, and a generation of Hendersonville's children who were such a large part of his life. Funeral services will be held at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Hillsborough oneednesday, April 9, at 2 pm. A memorial service for Dr. Thomas will be held ineendersonville at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Online memorials: www.hallwynne.com. Select Obituaries. Arrangements for the Thomas family are under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service in Durham.