Richard V. Ohmart, MD, FAAFP, 84, of Oakley, died Thursday, June 11,
2020, at the Logan County Hospital. He was born May 29, 1936, in
McPherson, KS, to Verle and Fern (Heckman) Ohmart. He was a long time
Oakley physician and enjoyed photography.
After completing high school in Scott City, Dick enrolled in the
University of Kansas and received a bachelor’s degree in 1958, with
majors in English and chemistry. He played in the KU band for three
years. While there he was selected to Phi Beta Kappa, chosen a member of
Phi Lambda Upsilon, the chemistry honor society and received Honors in
English. During his senior year at KU he also married his high school
sweetheart, Carol Socolofsky on April 19, 1958.
In the fall of 1958 Dick entered medical school, also at the University
of Kansas, graduating in June 1962. Dick and Carol, along with their two
boys, Dale and Dean, moved to Wichita where Dr. Ohmart interned at
Wesley Medical Center. In June 1963, the family moved to Oakley, Kansas,
and joined practice with James Marchbanks. M.D. Susan, their third
child, was born shortly after they arrived in Oakley. Dr. Ohmart
practiced in Oakley until his retirement in 2001.
He was a member of the Kansas Medical Society, the Kansas Academy of
Family Practice and a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice.
He has been president of the Northwest Kansas Medical Society. He was a
preceptor and Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Practice at the
University of Kansas Medical School until his retirement. He was a
Clinical Preceptor for The Wichita State University Physician Assistant
program until his retirement.
In Oakley Dr. Ohmart has been scoutmaster, a member of the school board,
Medical Director of the Logan County EMS service and District Coroner.
He has been a board member of the Kansas Blue Cross/Blue Shield
insurance company and a board member of the High Plains Mental Health
Center. In 1992 the hospital administrator and Dr. Ohmart founded the
New Frontiers Health Services and was medical director until his
retirement. From 1996 until his retirement Dr. Ohmart was Director of
Medical Education, Northwest Region, University of Kansas Medical
School.
Dick was an avid amateur photographer. He could often be seen at local
activities taking pictures. He had some of them printed and his patients
enjoyed his local activity pictures that were in his exam rooms. He
also hung scenic pictures that he took in his office. Some of those are
on display at the Logan County Hospital.
Dr. Ohmart was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, the medical honorary
society. He was chosen Rural Practitioner of the Year in 1999 by the
National Rural Health Association. In 2000 the Kansas Academy of Family
Practice selected Dr. Ohmart as Family Physician of the year.
Dick fell on the ice in January 2001, sustaining a subdural hematoma.
Following a flight to Denver surgery to remove the hematoma was
successful. The next morning Dr. Ohmart suffered a stroke. After
spending six months in a hospital Carol took him home to an apartment in
Denver for rehabilitation. Two years after his stroke Dr. Ohmart and
Carol published a book about their experiences as When I Died, An
Amazing Adventure.
In 2004 he and Carol built a house in Fulshear, TX where they would
spend the colder months. They were dedicated to their grandchildren and
this winter/summer schedule often depended on their activities.
In 2011 he published The Education of an Old Doc, The Story of my
Practice in a Wilderness. He’s also contributed to medical magazines,
had articles in the local paper, written on his own Website
(OldDocOhmart.com), and a Facebook Group page Education of an Old Doc
(https://www.facebook.com/groups/196486377090052). There is also a
collection of his works at the American Association of Family Physicians
Center for the History of Family Medicine in Leawood, KS.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Robert Ohmart and son-in-law Mike Bloom.
Richard is survived by his wife Carol; children, Dale (Minette) Ohmart,
Dean Ohmart (Susan Jenkins) and Susan Bloom; grandchildren Joel Nicholas
Ohmart, Kira Jasmine Ohmart, Charlie Bloom (Jessica Cook), Roderick
Bloom and John Bloom, great grandchild, Carrie Mikaela Bloom, brother
Harold (Carol) Ohmart, and sister-in-law Caroline Ohmart.
A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date. Memorials are
suggested to the Logan County Healthcare Foundation and can be sent in
care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748. For information
or condolences visit www.baalmannmortuary.com