Contributed by: William Umphlett
THE NEWS & OBSERVER RALEIGH, N.C. Friday, December 19, 1997 THOMAS L. UMPHLET RALEIGH—Dr. Thomas Leonard Umphlet, Glenaire Retirement Community, Cary, N.C. died December 18.1997. Dr. Umphlet, known by many as “Dr Tom”, was a well-known physician of internal medicine, having practiced in Raleigh from 1938 until he retired in 1978. He was the son of Florence Walters Umphlet and William Franklin Umphlet, born in Perquimans County, North Carolina on November 8, 1908. He received his early education in the public schools of Perquimans County, graduating from high school in 1927, after which he attended Davidson College, the University of North Carolina, and Wake Forest College. He received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1934. He was associate physician at Dorothea Dix Hospital in Raleigh for six months, then four years as intern and resident physician at Grasslands Hospital, Westchester County, New York. During his residency, Dr. Umphlet married Margaret Douglass of Penn Yan, N.Y. who predeceased him. Dr. Umphlet returned to North Carolina in 1938 and established his medical practice in association with his wife, Margaret, who was a bacteriologist. He was attending physician at Rex, St. Agnes, and Wake Memorial Hospitals for his entire length of practice, and was Chief of Medical Services and Chairman of the Executive Council of Rex Hospital for ten years. He was elected a Fellow of the American College of Physicians in 1942 and was a member of the various medical societies-local, state, and national: Wake County Medical Society, President ; Raleigh Academy of Medicine, President; N.C. Medical Society, American Medical Association; Internal Medicine Society of N.C. and U.S. Royster Medical Society, President; and President of Rex Hospital Staff. He was a member of the Carolina Country Club, a life member of the Milburnie Fishing Club, former member of the Sphinx Club and Raleigh Rotary Club, and a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh. Dr. Umphlet opened his first office on Hillsborough Street in 1938, subsequently moved to 119 N. Boylan Ave, where he was joined in his practice by other physicians. Dr. Umphlet, much loved and respected by many retired from the practice of internal medicine on January 1, 1978 after a long, honorable and distinguished career. Her married Pattie Vaughan Swift, who died in January 1995. He then married Helen Watkins Horner, who survives him. Dr. Umphlet was a supporter of various worthy causes and the Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University and Rex Hospital. In September of 1997, he was named Rex Classic Distinguished Physician of Merit. Besides his wife, Helen, his survivors include a nephew, William David Umphlett of Live Oak, Texas; nephew, Vincent Bellis of Greenville, N.C. and Douglass Bellis of Washington, D.C.; and two stepsons from his second marriage, Dale Swift of Greensboro, N.C. and Brad Swift of Flat Rock, N.C. Visitation will be at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home on Saint Mary’s Street In Raleigh on Friday, December 19th from 4-6 p.m. Graveside service will be at Raleigh Memorial Park on Glenwood Avenue at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. It is requested that flowers be omitted. Anyone desiring to show their love for Dr. Tom may do so by making a token gift to the Capital Campaign Fund, first Presbyterian Church, 111 W. Morgan St. Raleigh, N.C. or to the Glenaire Foundation,Inc. 200 W. Cornwall Rd. Cary N.C. 27511.