1925
Wilbur
2016
Wilbur Sutton Thain
November 4, 1925 — April 30, 2016
Benson, UT-Wilbur Sutton Thain M.D., 90, passed away on April 30, 2016.
Bill, as he liked to be called, was born in Logan, Utah on November 4, 1925 to Wilber Evans Thain and Elizabeth Sutton Thain. He was raised in West Los Angeles. His father and uncles started his love for fly fishing with a trip to Henrys Lake in Idaho in the early 1930s. He graduated from University High School, which had 7000 students in 1942. After one year at UCLA, he joined the Naval Air Corp where he received his wings just as World War II ended. He then returned to UCLA for undergraduate school and continued to the University of Southern California for medical school in 1948. He was married to Ruthie J. Tait Andres in June of 1951. He graduated in 1952 and started his internship at the US Naval Hospital in San Diego. He was transferred to an amphibious troopship at the end of his internship. They landed in Seoul, Korea days before the armistice was signed. Upon leaving the service he began a one year residency at the Bakersfield General Hospital. He and Ruthie and their two children, Karen and David moved to Logan, Utah in 1955 where he established his medical practice. He delivered over 3000 babies in his 30 years of practice in Logan. He loved his practice and the people he served. In particular, he loved working with children with special needs. This led him to help establish the Exceptional Children’s Center at Utah State University or as it is now called the Center for Persons with Disabilities. He served as the Medical Director for thirteen years. The children were delighted in coming to his office and seeing Dr. Thain. One of their great delights was a coin for his large gumball machine as a treat at the end of the visit. Bill had worked nights for Howard Hughes’ private office while going to medical school. This led to him becoming Mr. Hughes’ private physician in the 1970’s. This disrupted his practice for a short time, but he returned fulltime in 1976 upon the death of Mr. Hughes.
Bill had joined a social fraternity while attending UCLA, Delta Sigma Phi. Once in Logan, he became the adviser to the fraternity where they started a chapter on the USU campus. He enjoyed the time working with the young men for many years.
He was a life member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He served as the Exalted Ruler of Logan Lodge #1453 as well as the Utah State President of the organization. He received his 50th Year Service Pin from the Tahoe/Douglas Lodge #2670, Gardnerville, NV in 2014.
He retired at 75 years of age to live in Minden, Nevada, then returning to Cache Valley in 2006. He and Ruthie enjoyed worldwide traveling. They continued to pursue his lifelong love of fly fishing. One of his great joys was to go fishing and catch a fish on a fly that he had tied. Last year, he and family members had great trips to Dillon, MT and the Green River below Flaming Gorge. He loved to cook, especially grilling and barbecuing. He is well known for “Bills Rub”, an outstanding seasoning he had perfected over the years.
He is survived by his wife Ruthie, daughters Karen (Rod) Curtis of College Ward and Susan (Ross) Olsen of Benson, sons Dr. David (Jari) Thain of Washoe Valley, NV, Paul (Geishaye) Thain of Hyde Park and Robert E. Olson of Lafayette, CO, eight grandchildren, Ryan, Amy, Lacey, Colton, Amy Jo, Katelin, Kelsie, and Sean and eleven great-grandchildren, Stetson, Chayton, Taylie, Shelbie, Preslie, Lilli, Tait, Justin, Travis, Tayson and Kyle, sisters Mary Gaye of Park City and Phyllis Heim (Hans) of Thousand Oaks. CA. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister June A. Whitney.
Services: A viewing will be held on Monday May 2, 2016, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center St., in Logan and from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the Benson LDS Church. The funeral will follow at 12 p.m.
The family would like to thank the physicians and staff at Logan IHC Hospital and CNS for their compassionate and loving care.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that you honor Dr. Thain’s decades of service to the community with a gift to the Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University. To make a gift visit http://www.usu.edu/giving/ and select “Department of” from the first drop down, then “Center for Persons with Disabilities” from the next drop down. You can also make a check out to “CPD in memory of Dr. Thain” and mail your gift to:
Center for Persons with Disabilities
6800 Old Main Hill
Logan UT, 84322
Bill, as he liked to be called, was born in Logan, Utah on November 4, 1925 to Wilber Evans Thain and Elizabeth Sutton Thain. He was raised in West Los Angeles. His father and uncles started his love for fly fishing with a trip to Henrys Lake in Idaho in the early 1930s. He graduated from University High School, which had 7000 students in 1942. After one year at UCLA, he joined the Naval Air Corp where he received his wings just as World War II ended. He then returned to UCLA for undergraduate school and continued to the University of Southern California for medical school in 1948. He was married to Ruthie J. Tait Andres in June of 1951. He graduated in 1952 and started his internship at the US Naval Hospital in San Diego. He was transferred to an amphibious troopship at the end of his internship. They landed in Seoul, Korea days before the armistice was signed. Upon leaving the service he began a one year residency at the Bakersfield General Hospital. He and Ruthie and their two children, Karen and David moved to Logan, Utah in 1955 where he established his medical practice. He delivered over 3000 babies in his 30 years of practice in Logan. He loved his practice and the people he served. In particular, he loved working with children with special needs. This led him to help establish the Exceptional Children’s Center at Utah State University or as it is now called the Center for Persons with Disabilities. He served as the Medical Director for thirteen years. The children were delighted in coming to his office and seeing Dr. Thain. One of their great delights was a coin for his large gumball machine as a treat at the end of the visit. Bill had worked nights for Howard Hughes’ private office while going to medical school. This led to him becoming Mr. Hughes’ private physician in the 1970’s. This disrupted his practice for a short time, but he returned fulltime in 1976 upon the death of Mr. Hughes.
Bill had joined a social fraternity while attending UCLA, Delta Sigma Phi. Once in Logan, he became the adviser to the fraternity where they started a chapter on the USU campus. He enjoyed the time working with the young men for many years.
He was a life member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He served as the Exalted Ruler of Logan Lodge #1453 as well as the Utah State President of the organization. He received his 50th Year Service Pin from the Tahoe/Douglas Lodge #2670, Gardnerville, NV in 2014.
He retired at 75 years of age to live in Minden, Nevada, then returning to Cache Valley in 2006. He and Ruthie enjoyed worldwide traveling. They continued to pursue his lifelong love of fly fishing. One of his great joys was to go fishing and catch a fish on a fly that he had tied. Last year, he and family members had great trips to Dillon, MT and the Green River below Flaming Gorge. He loved to cook, especially grilling and barbecuing. He is well known for “Bills Rub”, an outstanding seasoning he had perfected over the years.
He is survived by his wife Ruthie, daughters Karen (Rod) Curtis of College Ward and Susan (Ross) Olsen of Benson, sons Dr. David (Jari) Thain of Washoe Valley, NV, Paul (Geishaye) Thain of Hyde Park and Robert E. Olson of Lafayette, CO, eight grandchildren, Ryan, Amy, Lacey, Colton, Amy Jo, Katelin, Kelsie, and Sean and eleven great-grandchildren, Stetson, Chayton, Taylie, Shelbie, Preslie, Lilli, Tait, Justin, Travis, Tayson and Kyle, sisters Mary Gaye of Park City and Phyllis Heim (Hans) of Thousand Oaks. CA. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister June A. Whitney.
Services: A viewing will be held on Monday May 2, 2016, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center St., in Logan and from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the Benson LDS Church. The funeral will follow at 12 p.m.
The family would like to thank the physicians and staff at Logan IHC Hospital and CNS for their compassionate and loving care.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that you honor Dr. Thain’s decades of service to the community with a gift to the Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University. To make a gift visit http://www.usu.edu/giving/ and select “Department of” from the first drop down, then “Center for Persons with Disabilities” from the next drop down. You can also make a check out to “CPD in memory of Dr. Thain” and mail your gift to:
Center for Persons with Disabilities
6800 Old Main Hill
Logan UT, 84322
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Wilbur Sutton Thain, please visit our flower store.
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