Dr. Arthur Henry Thomas

Biography: Arthur Henry Thomas, 83, died on November 10, 2025. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on October 3, 1942, he was educated in the Little Rock public schools and at Culver Military Academy, being graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he was a proud member and president of The Kappa Sigma fraternity. He completed his studies at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, serving as president of the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society in 1968. That same year, he married the love of his life, Martina "Marti" Moss Thomas, with whom he built a family that was his greatest joy.

Dr. Thomas interned in surgery at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas, before serving two years in the U.S. Army as a flight surgeon in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He completed an ophthalmology residency at UAMS and a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus at Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. Returning home to Little Rock, he established a private practice. He also was a professor, teaching at UAMS and Arkansas Children's Hospital and served on the staffs of UAMS, Arkansas Children's Hospital, Baptist Eye Center, Doctor's Hospital, and St. Vincent Infirmary. He was president of the Arkansas Ophthalmological Society, Chief of Ophthalmology at Arkansas Children's Hospital, and Chief of Surgery at Doctor's Hospital. Before his retirement, he joined the faculty of the Jones Eye Institute at UAMS and Arkansas Children's Hospital. Upon his retirement, he was named Professor Emeritus at UAMS.

Beyond medicine, Dr. Thomas was an active parishioner and Vestry member at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral and served on many cultural and civic boards, including the Arkansas Arts Center, the Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, the Community Theater of Little Rock, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, the Arkansas Opera Theater, the Visiting Nurses Association, the Historic Arkansas Museum Foundation, KLRE Public Radio, and the Chamber Music Society of Little Rock.

He appreciated a good round of golf at The Country Club of Little Rock, duck hunting at Cross Pond Duck Club with dear friends, his time in The XV Club, playing his collection of saxophones and guitars, driving fast cars, and traveling the world with Marti and his family, including reaching the goal of visiting each of the U.S. Presidential libraries.

He is survived by the family he cherished: his wife, Marti; his daughters, Elizabeth Smith (Bobby) and Catherine Langley (Michael); his sister and brother-in-law, Mary and George Benjamin; and his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Kathy and Mike Moss. Grandchildren Anna and Drew Vest, Maggie, Sara Cate, and Henry Smith, Tapp and Wesley Langley, and Kara Reaves. He is also survived by many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Martha Hill Thomas and Henry Castleman Thomas.

Funeral will take place on Friday, November 14 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 310 West 17 th Street in Little Rock, with reception immediately following in Morrison Hall. To watch via livestream: youtube.com/@TrinityLittleRock. Family Burial service will follow the reception at Roselawn Cemetery with Military Funeral Honors.

Memorial gifts may be directed to: Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 310 W. 17 th, Little Rock, AR 72206, The Jones Eye Institute at UAMS, c/o Shelli Madison, 4301 W. Markham #523, Little Rock, AR 72205 or Arkansas Children's Hospital Foundation, 1 Children's Way, Little Rock, AR 72202-3500. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com