Dr. Thomas Arthur Dodd

Dr. Thomas Arthur Dodd, 71 years old, a prominent Poplar Bluff physician died Wednesday, August 7, 2019 surrounded by family and friends.

Dr. Dodd was born on August 1, 1948 in Independence, MO. He grew up in Kansas City, MO where he was an Eagle Scout and enjoyed playing both football and baseball as a catcher.

Dr. Dodd went to Oak Park High School in Kansas City, MO where he served as the class President and was part of the first class to graduate from the school in 1966, and did so with honors. He, along with other members of the school council, helped to choose the school's colors, mascot, and wrote its alma mater. Dr. Dodd grew to be close friends with the school's original principal, Dr. Dan Kahler. They remained close until Dr. Kahler’s death in 2016.

Dr. Dodd attended John Brown University, a private Christian university in Siloam Springs, Arkansas on a baseball scholarship and was coached by Wally Moon. There he sang with The Sound Generation, which began in the fall of 1967. During the years of its existence, The Sound Generation toured the nation bringing the newest generation of sound to the forefront in America, performed with many celebrities and sang for President Nixon’s Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. Dr. Dodd went on to graduate from the University of Missouri, Columbia School of Medicine in Columbia, MO in 1976.

Dr. Dodd served as a Major and Medical Officer at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, North Carolina from 1979 to 1982. During this time, he received the Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service.

Dr. Dodd carried out his medical residency at DCH Regional Medical Center focusing in Family Medicine in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He was a delegate of the American Academy of Family Physicians in 1979.

He practiced medicine as a Family Physician working at both Kneibert Clinic and Doctors Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff since 1982. He served 15 years for Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Center. During his practice he delivered over 5,500 babies and was a respected and dedicated physician. He was extremely committed to his patients, staff, and community. He served on the Poplar Bluff School Board for 3 years, from 1990-1993, and was elected as the School Board President from 1992-1993.

Dr. Dodd was devoted to his God, his family, and the practice of family medicine. He personally knew his patients and was dedicated to their health, well-being, and families, often delivering several generations of babies. Dr. Dodd retired from medical practice in 2000. He will be sorely missed by all whose lives he touched.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Eva Dodd, of Kansas City, MO.

He is survived by his wife, Sally Dodd; daughter, Courtney Dodd of Bakersville, NC; son, Matthew Dodd (Erin) and granddaughter Aspen of Poplar Bluff, MO; sister Judy Mitchell (Carl) of Overland Park, KS; sister Joy Behrens (Jeff) of Gladstone, MO; and sister Jan Dodd of Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. in the chapel at Moore Funeral Service, 1100 Iron Bridge Road, Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

A celebration of Dr. Dodd's Life will follow at 7:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions be made in memory of Dr. Thomas Dodd to the scholarship fund at John Brown University.

Family and friends may share an online condolence or memory at https://www.moorefuneralservice.com/notices/DrThomas-Dodd