Julian J. Thomas Jr

Julian J. Thomas Jr. NORFOLK - Retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Julian Johnson Thomas Jr., Dental Corps, 81, died Wednesday Oct. 15, 2008, at Harbor's Edge. Adm. Thomas was born in Nashville, Tenn., to Julian J. and Martha Warner Thomas on Oct. 10, 1927. After graduating from Sewanee Military Academy, he attended Vanderbilt University and received a D.D.S. degree from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry and an M.S.D. degree from Indiana University's Dental School. Adm. Thomas served his general internship at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital. This was followed by two years aboard the USS Albany and two years aboard the USS Little Rock, home ported in Norfolk. He was assigned to the faculty at the Navy Post Graduate Dental School in Bethesda, Md., (1967-70). There he had additional duty as the White House dentist during the Johnson administration. Various assignments followed, including a four-year tour in Naples, Italy and a tour as commanding officer of the Regional Dental Center at Parris Island, S.C. He was promoted to rear admiral and assigned as Inspector General of the Dental Corps. Adm. Thomas later became commanding officer of the Regional Dental Center in San Diego. After retiring from the Navy, he became chairman of the Department of Operative Dentistry at the Dental School at Northwestern University. Adm. Thomas was a fellow of the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, the Academy of Gold Foil Operators and the American Dental Association, a member of the American Academy of Restorative Dentists and the Academy of Operative Dentistry and a founding member of the American Board of Operative Dentistry. Adm. Thomas is survived by his wife, Joan White Thomas; a daughter, Martha Rita Thomas of Norfolk; a son, Dr. Julian Johnson Thomas III and his wife Kimberly of Greenville S.C.; his sister, Susan Thomas Castner and her husband Harold of Nashville; nephews, Corbin Johnson and family, Graham Johnson and family, Davis Johnson and family, Vernon Buchman and family and James Buchman and family; as well as numerous cousins. A funeral will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 201 St. Paul's Blvd., Norfolk, VA 23510 at 11 a.m. Monday with a reception immediately following. The family wishes to thank the nursing staff at Harbor's Edge for their extraordinarily kind care. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments, Norfolk Chapel, is handling arrangements.