Dylan Paul Thomas

Dylan Paul Thomas A memorial service for Dylan Paul Thomas is scheduled for 11 a.m., Friday, May 30, at St. David's Episcopal Church, 304 East 7th Street, Austin. Mr. Thomas, 48, died April 8 after an extended illness. He was born February 4, 1960, in Denton where his father taught at Selwyn School. He was predeceased by his father William L. Thomas, a brother James William Thomas, a sister Mary Adele Anderson and grandparents James Weldon and Isabel Thomas, J. Murray and Maxine Brune and Marcel and Aline Anderson. His paternal grandfather, Mr. J. W. Thomas, was active in oil and gas exploration in the United States. He was in charge of European Operations for Geophysical Services, Inc. (GSI) in the 1920s and later headed the company during major petroleum developments throughout Latin America. After GSI became Texas Instruments, he was named President of the newly formed subsidiary that retained the GSI name. He retired as President of GSI in 1960 and served on the board of directors of the parent company, Texas Instruments. A longtime Shriner, he was Potentate of the Mexico City Lodge. Dylan attended St. Andrew's Episcopal School and later St. Stephen's Episcopal School where he lettered in football. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from Austin College in Sherman where he was active in dramatic productions as an actor and in set and lighting design. He was married to Julie Johnson, an actress and singer whose career includes the voiceover of the cartoon character, Baby Bop, in the Barney show seen on PBS. The marriage ended in divorce. He later married Cynthia Hadden and that union ended in divorce. He spent many summers at Camp LaJunta in Kerrville and worked for his parents in the early days of Anderson's Coffee Co. Moving to Dallas following college graduation he earned membership in IATSE, the labor union representing technicians and artisans in the entertainment industry. He worked on set and lighting designs for many concerts and Dallas Little Theater productions. He received appointments to work at the State Fair of Texas Musicals and served as a personal assistant to the actress, Shirley Maclaine, and to Gavin MacLeod, the Captain in the "Love Boat" television series. He worked as a grip during the production of the movies, "Silkwood" and "Robo Cop II." A very religious person he served as an acolyte at St. David's Episcopal Church and maintained a long and close membership there until his death. He continued his religious study at Christ in the Desert Monastery, Abiquiu, New Mexico, the Pecos Benedictine Monastery in Pecos, New Mexico. He is survived by his mother, Linda, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Jamie Anderson of Austin who adopted him after the death of his father; a brother, David of Houston; three aunts, Diana Childress of New York, Tam Boardman of Stephenville and Sharon Johnson of Burnet; two nieces, Lauren and Helena Thomas of Houston. The family suggests gifts to his memory be given to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 3420 Executive Center Drive, Suite 108, Austin, TX 78731. A reception will be held in Sumners Hall following the memorial service.