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1933 - 2021

BORN

1933

DIED

2021

WILLIAM TOMLINSON Obituary

William "Bill" Madison Tomlinson age 87 of San Antonio, passed away peacefully on January 14, 2021 at VITAS Inpatient Hospice Unit after suffering a stroke. Born February 21, 1933 in Port O'Connor, Texas he was the son of the late Richard Marion and Mary Claire (Williams) Tomlinson.

Bill served in the United States Navy Reserves, and started a career in electrical engineering in California. After returning to Texas, he began his distinguished career with Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio in 1964 and retired after more than 30 years as group leader in the Space Science and Engineering Division; following retirement he continued to serve the Institute as a technical advisor until 2016.

Bill loved his work and traveled the world on space-related assignments.

He is survived by his wife Carol (Aardal) Tomlinson of San Antonio; daughters and spouses Debra Wehmeyer (Gene) of Bandera, Texas, Shelly Boggess (Hal) of Highland Village, Texas, Billie Harper (Greg) of Humble, Texas; sons and spouses Terry Tomlinson (Katie) of Pipe Creek, Texas and Lance Tomlinson (Maria) of Spring, Texas; Step-son and daughter Donald Furness and Deanna Lynn of San Antonio; Sisters Mary Catherine Hanson of Petersburg, Illinois and Patricia Polly of Seguin, Texas; Brothers Richard Tomlinson (Jane) of San Antonio and Mike Tomlinson (Opal) of Blanco, Texas; 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Bill is predeceased by his brother Samuel Tomlinson, and Barbara (Beaton) Tomlinson, the mother of his children.

Arrangements for a memorial are pending.

A donation in Bill's name can be made to: Arbor Day Foundation, (arborday.org/memory) and/or St. Andrews Episcopal Church, San Antonio, TX

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Express-News on Jan. 24, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for WILLIAM TOMLINSON

3 Entries

SwRI

January 18, 2025

Bill was always a good friend with a big smile and plenty of charm. He was uplifting and always funny with his endless jokes. I miss him.

Bob Harbaugh

January 28, 2021

I had the pleasure of meeting Bill in 1996 when I began working with SwRI on their first big NASA mission IMAGE. I was working closely with the IMAGE Project Manager at SwRI, Bill Gibson and we traveled quite often when he would tell me the funniest and craziest stories of their (Bill G. & Bill T.) road trips together which left me gasping for breaths as I laughed so hard and so often. Occasionally, Bill would join us on our IMAGE traveling show and we would make a few stories of our own (shhhhh don't tell anybody!). So Bill and I crossed paths on numerous projects and occasions and we became good friends. As my wife Adriane and I came to know Bill and Carol over the years and you couldn't know finer people in the whole wide world. Bill was one of those guyz who was always there to pitch in or offer helpful advice whenever needed. Bill will always be my friend and remembered as I will miss him. I pass along my deepest sympathy and condolences to Carol and the entire Tomlinson family for their loss.

Russ/Becky Rittimann

January 27, 2021

Our deepest sympathy to the Tomlinson family for the loss of your beloved Bill. Prayers for you all in the difficult days ahead.

Showing 1 - 3 of 3 results

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