C.N. "Tom" Tinker
1933-2020
Clarence Norman "Tom" Tinker was born in Lansing, Michigan on March 23, 1933, and passed away peacefully on March 11, 2020 in Austin, Texas.
Tom graduated from East Lansing High School in 1950 and received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in geology from the University of Michigan in 1954 and 1955. He married Janice Wheeler Tinker (East Lansing High School '50, Michigan State '54) on July 2, 1955. They had known each other since the 7th grade and became reacquainted after college. They honeymooned on "Wheeler's Island" on Arbutus Lake in northern Michigan before Tom reported to work for Shell Oil Company, where he worked his entire career of 39 years.
Tom was the first of three generations of geologists in his family and was an active member of many professional geological societies. He and Jan moved a dozen times with Shell between Texas, Louisiana, Illinois, Colorado, and Oklahoma before settling in Houston in 1970. In Shell he ascended to the rank of Senior Technical Advisor. In his later years with Shell he was involved in the organic bioremediation of oil from soil and groundwater in the state of Michigan, an effort that drew recognition from the Governor of Michigan. Tom was passionate about building integrated teams and mentored many young scientists and engineers.
Tom was a third-generation graduate of the University of Michigan. He served the university as a member of the Department of Geological Sciences Alumni Advisory Board for many years and was a committed financial donor. Tom loved watching sports, and whenever the University of Michigan football or basketball teams played he could be found in his large recliner, TV Remote in hand, wearing his U of M hat and sweater, with "Hail to the Victors" at the ready!
Tom was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years Janice Wheeler Tinker He is survived by his three children Jill Tinker Duncan, Dr. Scott Wheeler Tinker, and Dr. Mark Andrew Tinker and his nine grandchildren. Tom’s son’ Scott Tinker’ is Director of the 250-person Bureau of Economic Geology, the State Geologist of Texas, professor holding the Allday Endowed Chair in the Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austina and a Past President of the AAPG.
There will be a private memorial service for Tom and Jan on Wheeler Island in northern Michigan.
Summarized from Life Tributes Section of the Houston Chronicle Sunday May 3, 2020