Dr. Roger Ray Tobias, passed away on October 5, 2022, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita. Roger was born in Lyons, on June 2, 1951, to Raymond and Elma Tobias.
He was a 1969 graduate of Lyons High School and a 1973 graduate of Kansas University School of Business before attending Kansas University School of Medicine. In 1976 he was a member of the second graduating class from the Kansas University School of Medicine-Wichita campus. Roger was a devoted husband to Debbie, married July 27, 1974, in the Danforth Chapel on the Kansas University campus in Lawrence. He was a Flight Surgeon in the United States Air Force, stationed at Clark Air Force Base, Philippines from 1977 to 1980. Roger and Debbie returned to Kansas to complete his Family Practice Residency at St Francis Medical Center in Wichita. Dr. Tobias then moved his young family to Lyons, and served Rice County residents for over 35 years. In 2017 he retired from a career in medicine to full-time farming south of Lyons.
A lifelong member of the Lyons First United Methodist Church, he served as a Trustee, Lay Leader, Sunday School teacher, and Choir member. Roger served on many boards including U.S.D. 405 School Board, and the Lyons High School Endowment Association. As President of the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians, he authored “Where Have all the Doctor’s Gone?” which spearheaded a campaign establishing a program to incentivize family practice physicians choosing to live and work in rural Kansas. His most important life’s work was as Father to his three children and Grandfather to his six grandchildren.
Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Elma. He is survived by his wife, Debbie; daughter Adrienne (Damon Schmadeke) of Viera, Florida; son Adam (Laura) of Tipp City, Ohio; son Aaron (Kimberly) of Clearwater; grandchildren Lana, Danica, and Derek Schmadeke, Mia Tobias, and Morgan and Caleb Tobias; sister Susie (Drew Adamson) and brother Curtis (Susan).
Funeral service will be at 10:30 A.M., Monday, October 10, 2022, at the First United Methodist Church, Lyons, with Pastor Kim Shank officiating. Burial will follow at the Lyons Municipal Cemetery, Lyons. Visitation will be from 3:00 until 6:00 P.M., Sunday, October 9, 2022, at the First United Methodist Church, Lyons, with family present.