January 25, 1960 — March 12, 2026
Dr. John Thomas was born on January 25, 1960 in Little Rock, Arkansas, the third child of Tommy and Joan Thomas. He traveled with his parents in the US Air Force until age nine when his family settled in Enid. He attended Hoover Elementary and Waller Junior High School, where he was the proud recipient of the Citizenship Award, and graduated from Enid High School where he was a starter in football, basketball and tennis. He studied electrical engineering at OSU for three years before beginning the dental program at OU Health Sciences in OKC. There he received his D.D.S and met his future bride, Rosemarie Furia.
In 1987 John and Rose were married and started their life together in Wakita, OK. There they welcomed three sons before moving to Enid in 1992, where they established their home and were blessed with a daughter. Besides raising his four children and practicing dentistry, John continued his education in orthodontics and implantology, coached multiple sports, and helped teach second grade Sunday school at Emmanuel Baptist Church, where he and his family were active members for decades.
Over the years, John enjoyed golf, tennis, and traveling to see his children and grandchildren from New York to California. John loved his ice cream and coffee, and especially loved them together-every road trip included a mocha frappe. He was a curious, eager learner who enjoyed research and reading, often staying up late to do so. While he loved to travel and see new places, he especially loved calling Enid his hometown. Together with Rose he built a joyful, welcoming, beautiful home. He loved making people laugh and delighted in leading group games at gatherings for friends, family, and employees. He was a skilled and caring dentist to his patients at Enid Family Dental, and an encouraging and kind boss to his staff. For the past several years, John and Rose have been members of Sojourn Church, and John counted his community there as a rich blessing.
John was a tremendous man-a devoted husband of nearly forty years; a dependable brother; a compassionate and supportive father; a doting and energetic 'Opa' to his grandkids; a patient, loving second father and role model to his nieces, nephews, many staff members, and church family; a cherished friend and mentor; a generous servant to all.
His sudden and unexpected passing on March 12th has left many hearts aching. He was truly a gift. He loved the Lord and his family, both in heart and in action. He was deeply grateful and content, recently saying "every year of my life has been a good year." John's favorite Scripture verse was "All things work together for good for those who love the Lord" (Romans 8:28) and it was easy to see that reflected in his joyful, hopeful spirit. Those left behind praise God for the gift of John's life and faith in Jesus Christ, and look forward to our reunion with him in heaven.
Dr. John is survived by his wife Dr. Rosemarie; his children Tim (Abigail), Dan (Rachel), Luke (Grace) and Elizabeth; his grandchildren Amelia, Peter, Caleb, Ethan, Cora Jane, Isaac, James, Mabel, and Emma; his brothers Dr. Paul (Mendy), Mark (Kay), David (Heather); his mother-in-law Lucy, sister-in-law Rhonda (Larry) Clements, brother-in-law Paul (Paula) Furia, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Tommy and Joan Thomas, his father-in-law Vincent Furia, sister-in-law Marlene Gnibus, and his uncle Vernon and aunt Barbara Marquardt.
Visitation will be held from 6-7p.m. on Thursday, March 19th at Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Sojourn Enid on Friday, March 20th, 2026, at 10 a.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Oklahoma Bible Academy (OBA) in Enid with Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home serving as custodian of the funds.
Condolences may be made to the family online at www.LadusauEvans.com. Ladusau-Evans has been serving the families of the Enid Community and surrounding areas for over 40 years with compassionate service and dedication. They provide families with an open door policy. Feel free to contact them 24 hours a day. Visitation Hours: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm daily, 2800 N. Van Buren, Enid, OK 73703. Call: (580) 233-1400.
