Philip B. Thomas, MD

BANGOR - Philip B. Thomas, MD, age 109, passed away peacefully at his home in Bangor, Maine, on July 23, 2025.

Born in Monson, Maine on March 5, 1916, Philip was the son of Roy and Lucile (Bray) Thomas. He began first grade at the age of four in a one-room schoolhouse in Monson and went on to attend several schools across the state, as his father worked for the Maine Extension Service. He graduated from Houlton High School and later earned degrees from Bowdoin College and Boston University School of Medicine. At the time of his death, he held the distinction of being the oldest living graduate of all three institutions, and one of the oldest veterans in the United States.

In 1940, he married Dorothy "Dot" (Howard) Thomas with whom he shared seventy-three devoted years until her passing in 2013.

In 1941, after completing one year of his medical internship, Dr. Thomas was drafted into World War II. Commissioned as a captain in the U.S. Army Air Corps, he was assigned as a flight surgeon and deployed throughout the European Theater, including in Normandy. He remained on active duty with distinction until 1945.

After the war, Dr. Thomas returned to Maine and settled in Monson with his growing family. He established a general practice, serving the people of the region in every capacity - from delivering babies to setting bones and stitching wounds, often snowshoeing through deep winter drifts to reach patients in need.

In 1949, inspired by an ad in a medical journal placed by Dr. Clement Dwyer, Dr. Thomas decided to specialize in the emerging field of anesthesiology. He moved to Bangor, where Dr. Dwyer became his mentor and later a professional partner. Dr. Thomas practiced anesthesiology with dedication and precision until his retirement in 1983.

Upon retiring, he and Dot spent winters in Siesta Key, Florida, and summers at Beech Hill Pond, in Otis. He had a real love for the outdoors, particularly sailing, hunting, and fishing. He remained a lifelong fan of the Boston Red Sox and the New York Giants.

Dr. Thomas remained intellectually curious and sharp right up until the end of his life. He used his tablet daily, buying and selling stocks and reading online articles. He participated in several interviews in recent years - most notably with a local news station, the Monson Historical Society, and The Veterans Project. Everyone who interacted with him was amazed by his memory for intricate details and timelines of events. He was a master storyteller.

In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by his sisters, Priscilla and Joanne, and a grandson, Sean. He is survived by his three children: John H. Thomas, Owen B. Thomas (Deborah), and Sue E. Thomas, who lovingly cared for her father for the last eleven years of his life. He also leaves behind seven grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren, all of whom fondly referred to him as "Grankie." He is survived by two sisters, Elizabeth Thomas and Linda Thomas.

A funeral service with military honors will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, August 11, 2025, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center Street, Bangor. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center Street, Bangor, immediately following the service. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor after the reception. Those wishing to honor Dr. Thomas's memory in a meaningful way may consider a contribution in his name to the Bangor Humane Society, 693 Mount Hope Avenue, Bangor, ME 04401. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.