Dr. Blaine Darwin Thomas

Dr. Blaine Darwin Thomas, a longtime dentist in Hannibal, peacefully passed away at Beloved Health and Rehabilitation Center on Tuesday, November 21, 2023.

Blaine was born on March 25, 1949, in Eureka, Kansas, to Leah Jean (Williams) and Virgil Milford Thomas. He graduated from Wathena High School in 1967, where he served as the captain of the football team during his senior year and was voted the most outstanding athlete in his class. Blaine still holds the high school record for the mile, a feat he achieved in 1967.

He continued his education at Kansas State College (now Emporia State University) on an athletic scholarship, earning collegiate athletic letters in Track and Field and Cross Country. Blaine graduated in 1970 with a bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences. In 1974, he received his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Dentistry. He initially worked as an associate in Bedford, Iowa, for one year before moving to Hannibal, where he joined the Hannibal Dental Group, working there for 42 years. Throughout his career, "Dr. B." dutifully cared for his patients and valued the staff he worked with in Hannibal and at a satellite clinic in Perry.

Blaine was a devoted father to his daughters, Trisha and Anne, regularly taking them boating on the lake, on hunting and fishing trips in Missouri, ski vacations in Colorado, and attending their cheer performances at Mark Twain High School sporting events.

On September 8, 2012, Blaine married Mindy Yount in Hannibal. A true outdoorsman, he enjoyed spending time in nature, whether mushroom hunting with Mindy, turkey hunting with his best friend Bill Dexheimer, walking in Riverview Park with his brother Duane, or on trout fishing trips on the White River in Arkansas with his brother and friend Coach Mark St. Clair. Blaine also cherished attending St. Louis Cardinals games with his brother and close high school friend from Wathena, Lee Brandt. Blaine was the best grandfather, he enjoyed taking his grandchildren fishing and cheering them on at sporting events.

Blaine and Mindy loved to travel, spending winter months in Key West, Florida at the Galleon Resort, and summers next to their pool in Hannibal. They made many wonderful memories together on trips to Jamaica, Mexico, and Alaska.

Blaine is survived by his wife, Mindy Thomas; his twin brother Duane (Jeanne), two daughters: Trisha (Dave) of Lawrence, Kansas, and Anne (Fred) of Iowa City, Iowa; grandchildren: Felicia, Thomas, Nicolas, Zachary, Gabriella, Benjamin, Vincenzo, Mackenzie, Anna, Katelyn, Ellie, David, Belle, and Chevy; one great-granddaughter, Keatyn, and many nieces, nephews, and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Phillip, his first wife Jayne Corcoran, and his in-laws, Robert and Neleta Yount.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2023, from 9:30-11:00 am at O'Donnell Funeral Home, Hannibal, with the celebration of life starting at 11:00 am.

Honorary pallbearers will be Lee Brandt, Bill Dexheimer, and Coach Mark St. Clair.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Community Loving Care Hospice.

Online condolences may be shared, and video tribute may be viewed at www.JamesODonnellFuneralHome.com.